When it comes to comic books, people usually think of superheroes or a group gifted with powers. Very few are based on modern life such as Ghost World. Persepolis is probably one of the best comic book films that I have seen, without the capes. It is based on author Marjane Satrapi who was around during and after the Iranian Revolution. This film offers a unique perspective during a turbulent time when the only thing we know of the event is when Americans were hostages.
1. Coming of Age Story
As I mentioned earlier, Persepolis is based on the author’s life growing during the Iranian Revolution and her growing up as an outsider in Vienna. This is the rare instance where the author is the co-director in the adaptation. Anyways, we see Marjane waiting for a flight in an airport while we flashback to her youth. She’s a feisty girl who is heavily influenced by Western culture by mimicking Bruce Lee.
Her parents are supportive for the ousting of the then leader of Iran. When they returned from a protest, Marjane wakes up and chants the death of the leader. She is taught by her uncle on the situation the country is going through. It also helps that what he teaches the girl, we also learn since there’s people who are not aware of how Iran changed from a democracy to a theocratic one.
Ultimately, the country transitioned in power and the family is proud of the leader’s ouster. One thing that makes Marjane unique is that she thinks she is a prophet. Which helps explains to us that she is religious and talks to God. Those moments expose us to who she is as a person. For instance, when the family get word of a relative being imprisoned, Marjane and her friends decide to pick on the kid whose father is a guard for the leader. She is eventually told that doing some form of unwarranted justice is wrong.
As things get worse, due to Iraq invading Iran, Marjane’s parents send her to Vienna. For her to live securely and is mentioned to us that she learned how to talk French in school. This film works as a two-part story like in the graphic novel. For one, the first part is really seeing the Revolution through Iranian eyes. The second is when we see Satrapi in an alien environment. As she lives in a hostel, she meets a group of punk rock friends who are interested in anarchy and find her intriguing. Due in part that she saw an uprising, not much her as a person.
The big thing in the film is identity. She never really liked being an Iranian and gravitated to listening to Rock music or anything that’s not part of her culture. We see how she ditches it and embraces who she wants to be but is told that to never forget her roots from her grandmother. Marjane the character is the person who is a minority but wants to be accepted. Her intentions are good, but it’s the way of going about it is what makes her interesting.
One thing I do like is that she speaks out on the ideas of being a woman in an Islamic world. There are moments when she is with her mother and sees the police question her mother’s wearing of the hijab. She sees that and questions their authority and really advocate for equity at a place where that’s inherently taboo. The best moment is when her college has a council formed, she stands up and really gives the councilmen every reason why her attire restrains her from doing art in art class and points out the double standard amongst men and women.
2. Animation
This is one of the few instances where the animated film mirrors the style of the medium its based on. Most of it is black and white, but it is dynamic with how it does those stylized segments of using black. The only other instance of a graphic novel adaptation was in Sin City since that was also in black and white but had hints of color for different characters. Here, it’s intentional by showing the situation be as it is where there is no gray area for compromise.
3. Price of Freedom
Another thing I noticed is that the family wants the change of leadership in the country. It’s mentioned that the Shah abused his power to make himself more opulent in lifestyle, while the civilians lived in poverty. Marjane’s parents didn’t want the change socially, they just wanted him gone and someone else to take charge.
It feels like irony when the next leader, the Ayatollah comes and the whole country changes socially. All the progress that they wanted was for nothing. Since women are treated like second class citizens, even Marjane when she returns from Vienna sees the double standard placed on her. Now, I will say that the film isn’t anti-Islamic, there are good people in that religion that don’t need to be grouped to some extremist ideas.
The overall point is that when she is informed of the situation and to have it basically be a part of the alienation she receives in Vienna, shows us that she has to embrace who she is and to have integrity in herself. It's good that the character has depth and to really grapple with just how wrong everything is in her eyes. Like not having parties, drinking, or listening to Western music such as Rock.
4. Why Persepolis?
Doing some more research, I learned that Persepolis was once a grand city in the area. It was then conquered by Alexander the Great. Throughout the centuries, the area has undergone numerous changes, but still having the same Persian influence. With what happened, it could be a warning that any country who veers to a more socially constrictive idea could become another Persepolis. The film isn't attempting to be preachy, but more so on standing up and calling out something that deserves it.
5. Overall
This is a great animated comic book film. It shows one side of a conflict and how that changed a young woman. The film humanizes the event, and more films should offer different perspective instead of showing a biased one.
Persepolis gets a four out of five.
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