Persepolis Movie Review by Pooyan Sadeghi
Persepolis
A Film written and directed by Marjane Satrapi
The brief glimpses into the psyche of a young Iranian woman dealing with the turmoil of a country torn apart by revolution and war while trying to find an identity that can be accepted by her western peers was both well described and well communicated at the same time.
Before I go further, you should know I didn't read the books. I always meant to, and everyone I know who has loved them. But one thing and another, it never happened – despite, I might add, my passion for graphic literature. Also, I am an Iranian-American and brought that identity into the theater with me.
To begin, this was a movie that all Western nationalities should go see. I'm always in favor of Westerners increasing their awareness of truth, rather than propaganda. The brief glimpses into the psyche of a young Iranian woman dealing with the turmoil of a country torn apart by revolution and war while trying to find an identity that can be accepted by her western peers was both well described and well communicated at the same time. This was the main theme of the movie, and I believe one that warrants more attention than it receives. It is a story that is not just of the Iranian experience abroad, but shared perhaps by all immigrants the world over. This story, however, was one that hit close to home for me. I can honestly say that the emotional strain described in this movie is one that almost all Iranian-Americans I know have felt to some degree. For that reason, this movie is cathartic for that particular audience as well. In other words, this movie is accessible both intellectually for some and emotionally for others, and perhaps both for many.
The medium by which it was presented was also refreshing. The movie stayed true to the original artwork of the graphic novels, as well it should have. The simplicity of the black and white frames gave more room for the story – and a well written story trumps an average movie every single time – CGI or not. And nothing is more satisfying than a story of human emotions.