Iran en français

Persepolis
Directed by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud
France, 2007
In French with English subtitles

I'm not a huge fan of graphic novels or animated movies, but this excellent graphic novel-turned-animated movie just might make me reconsider that. Suffice it to say that Marjane Satrapi's autobiographical account of her transformation from an innocent little girl into a troubled teenager in the years between the fall of the Shah and the aftermath of the Islamic Revolution in Iran is both giddy and poignant in equal measure. Although her story focuses more on the personal than the political side of things in terms of its grand themes (not that the two don't frequently overlap), this peek into Persian culture from an expat now living in Paris offers up some priceless revelations along the way--not the least of which is that owning up to life as an outsider anywhere is surprisingly universal, it would seem. Told with verve thanks to some of France's greatest actors and actresses and some "simple" black and white drawings that come to life before your eyes.


The Persepolis Trailer