Persepolis : A new kind of animation
Link: www.blog.moviezen.com
Persepolis is a poignant and captivating film which gives a realistic and touching face to the victims of the Iranian Revolution. It also serves to do away with stereotypes and rids of our preconceived notions. All this is done in the form of an animated film proving that not every movie has to be Kung Fu Panda. and lacks the box office star power of Mike Myers, [B]Angelina Jolie[/B] or Morgan Freeman, but this does not make it any less relevant.In the beginning Marjan is a happy child who “ wishes to be a prophet” her parents had regal blood in their veins, and her grandfather had died in the revolution. The family is rejoicing over the fall of the shah and believe that the world will be a better place without his ruthless regime. WE see the slow unraveling of innocence, and a girl’s determination to find her own way in the face of repression.
We also meet colorful characters such as her uncle who appears as an eternal optimistic socialist who is killed even after the shah has fallen down. As the freedom is limited we see her family smuggle alcohol and have illegal parties. Comedic scenes ensue as “ music smugglers” are able to smuggle in music such as Iron Maiden to her blessed ears As the war progresses and their freedom becomes limited the family decides to send Marjan to study in Vienna, dreaming of a world where Marjan will be free and happy.
However , in Vienna Marjan is even more ill at ease as she sees the vacant and vapid culture and their innate prejudice towards her. However none of these things truly bring her down and true to teenage temperament it is her betrayed frist love which did her in. Heartbroken she decides to return, only to find she no longer fits in. The film spans the cycle of girl to woman, and is a vulnerable yet honest account of a life a Third Culture Kid.
This is a beautiful look at the survival of the human spirit, and our eternal quest to find what we truly can call home.
