There's a lot that can be said about Persepolis. Despite its simple cartoon lineart, the story it tells isn't simple or funny. It's a life story, a drama, of a woman whose life takes her back and forth between Iran and Europe, as she follows the strange path her life takes her. The expressive cartoon art is sometimes used to exaggerate a scene for humor or portray it figuratively, but mostly it's just part of the stylization.
In Iran, Marjane is unhappy with the oppressive government cracking down on Western influences and "immorality", and fights back in her own ways, buying bootleg rock music, but not actively taking part in the protests against the government that are going on. She leaves Iran in her early adult years, but returns later, only to find it's become even more oppressive, to the point where holding hands with her boyfriend gets her questioned by the police.
One she grows up, Marjane moves to Europe, where she finds more freedom, but a lot of confusion. Her restrictive life in Iran left her very sheltered, not knowing much about the outside world. However, her odd background results in her becoming friends with some societal outliers, who think that her having grown up during a revolution and a war is cool. She is introduced to their culture, which at first freaks her out (her first encounter with screamo music is hilariously portrayed), but she comes to assimilate.
However, Marjane is constantly clashing with others. If it's not the culture clash in Europe, it's clashes with authority. She finds herself kicked out of a religious school, kicked out of a home she's staying at - leading to the only use of the F-bomb in the entire movie - and in trouble with the law in Iran.
There are large contrasts that can be drawn between her life in Iran and Europe. In Europe, Marjane finds freedom but doesn't know what to do or how to handle herself, eventually ending up homeless. In Iran she ironically finds stability, but certainly not freedom, with the culture police shutting down parties, resulting in the death of one person who tried to escape them but fell to his death instead.
This is a neat movie. Some elements are slightly cartoonishly exaggerated, but the story is overall grounded in reality, which makes sense considering it's a true story. This film might be worth checking out. It'll leave an impression.
Culture clash, authority clash, and one epic life story told in simple lineart
There's a lot that can be said about Persepolis. Despite its simple cartoon lineart, the story it tells isn't simple or funny. It's a life story, a drama, of a woman whose life takes her back and forth between Iran and Europe, as she follows the strange path her life takes her. The expressive cartoon art is sometimes used to exaggerate a scene for humor or portray it figuratively, but mostly it's just part of the stylization.
In Iran, Marjane is unhappy with the oppressive government cracking down on Western influences and "immorality", and fights back in her own ways, buying bootleg rock music, but not actively taking part in the protests against the government that are going on. She leaves Iran in her early adult years, but returns later, only to find it's become even more oppressive, to the point where holding hands with her boyfriend gets her questioned by the police.
One she grows up, Marjane moves to Europe, where she finds more freedom, but a lot of confusion. Her restrictive life in Iran left her very sheltered, not knowing much about the outside world. However, her odd background results in her becoming friends with some societal outliers, who think that her having grown up during a revolution and a war is cool. She is introduced to their culture, which at first freaks her out (her first encounter with screamo music is hilariously portrayed), but she comes to assimilate.
However, Marjane is constantly clashing with others. If it's not the culture clash in Europe, it's clashes with authority. She finds herself kicked out of a religious school, kicked out of a home she's staying at - leading to the only use of the F-bomb in the entire movie - and in trouble with the law in Iran.
There are large contrasts that can be drawn between her life in Iran and Europe. In Europe, Marjane finds freedom but doesn't know what to do or how to handle herself, eventually ending up homeless. In Iran she ironically finds stability, but certainly not freedom, with the culture police shutting down parties, resulting in the death of one person who tried to escape them but fell to his death instead.
This is a neat movie. Some elements are slightly cartoonishly exaggerated, but the story is overall grounded in reality, which makes sense considering it's a true story. This film might be worth checking out. It'll leave an impression.