Persepolis (2007)

Poignant coming-of-age story of a precocious and outspoken young Iranian girl that begins during the Islamic Revolution.

Directors:

Vincent Paronnaud, Marjane Satrapi

Writers:

Marjane Satrapi (comic), Vincent Paronnaud (scenario)

Stars:

Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve, Danielle Darrieux

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 20 wins & 26 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Chiara Mastroianni	...	Marjane 'Marji' Satrapi, as a teenager and a woman (voice)
Catherine Deneuve	...	Mrs. Satrapi - Marjane's mother (voice)
Danielle Darrieux	...	Marjane's grandmother (voice)
Simon Abkarian	...	Mr. Satrapi - Marjane's father (voice)
Gabrielle Lopes Benites	...	Marjane as a child (voice)
François Jerosme	...	Uncle Anouche (voice)
Sophie Arthuys	...	(voice)
Arié Elmaleh	...	(voice)
Mathias Mlekuz	...	(voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Amethyste Frezignac	...	Marjane as a child (voice)
Lexie Kendrick	...	(voice)
Tilly Mandelbrot	...	Lali (voice)
Sean Penn	...	Mr. Satrapi - Marjane's father (voice)
Iggy Pop	...	Uncle Anouche (voice)
Gena Rowlands	...	Marjane's grandmother (voice)

Storyline

In 1970s Iran, Marjane 'Marji' Statrapi watches events through her young eyes and her idealistic family of a long dream being fulfilled of the hated Shah's defeat in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. However as Marji grows up, she witnesses first hand how the new Iran, now ruled by Islamic fundamentalists, has become a repressive tyranny on its own. With Marji dangerously refusing to remain silent at this injustice, her parents send her abroad to Vienna to study for a better life. However, this change proves an equally difficult trial with the young woman finding herself in a different culture loaded with abrasive characters and profound disappointments that deeply trouble her. Even when she returns home, Marji finds that both she and homeland have changed too much and the young woman and her loving family must decide where she truly belongs.

---

Plot Keywords:

revolution | iran | coming of age | 1970s | iranian revolution | 

---

Genres:

Animation | Biography | Drama | War

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material including violent images, sexual references, language and brief drug content

Details

Official Sites:

Official MySpace [fr] Official site [es]

Country:

France USA

Language:

French English Persian German

Release Date:

27 June 2007 (France)

Also Known As:

Persépolis

Box Office

Budget:

$7,300,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£158,867 (UK) (25 April 2008)

Gross:

£778,834 (UK) (30 May 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

2.4.7. Films, France 3 Cinéma, Kennedy/Marshall Company, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min 89 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Iran's government sent a letter to the French embassy in Tehran to protest against the movie and pressured the organizers of the 2007 Bangkok Film Festival to drop it from the lineup.

---

Goofs

The departures board at Paris Orly at the beginning has Cincinnati misspelled as "Cincinatti".

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Airport receptionist: Ticket and passport, please.

---

Connections

References Derrick (1974)

---

Soundtracks

"Marche Persanne"
(Persischermarsch, op. 289)
Composed by Johann Strauß (as Johann Strauss)
Arranged by Olivier Bernet

User Reviews

Not your average animated feature...

...in fact, there is nothing average about this film. Traditionally animated in black and white flashbacks, it tells the story of a French-speaking woman's childhood and young adulthood in Tehran, Iran, and in Vienna during the 1980s and '90s.

Marjane Satrapi grew up in a family of revolutionaries against the Shah's regime and the Islamic government that subsequently took hold, and the film literally illustrates her feelings and thought processes as a little girl, following her as the government control in Iran got more and more strict. When her parents insist she leave the country, we also see her struggling to deal with adolescence and missing her beloved family; when she returns, she is also coping with the increasing repression of her freedoms as a woman. Most of all, you see her own personal conflict as she tries to stay true to herself.

This movie beautifully balances both the historic and personal issues and pulls the threads together into a compelling narrative, made a bit quirky by the style of presentation, resulting in work that is altogether touching. Along with intelligence and humor, a deep and strong sense of truth infuses every part of this film, making it even stronger. One of my only qualms was the feeling that it ended somewhat abruptly without much of a conclusion.

Overall, though, it was fantastic - definitely worth watching.