An animated personal history of a young woman growing up in the Iranian Islamic Revolution, Persepolis is a labour-of-love from writer/director Marjane Satrapi (Poulet au prunes, Radioactive).
Working with Vincent Parronaud (Poulet au prunes, Hunted), Satrapi tells herstory of the fall of the Shah and the rise of the oppressive religious regime. The disappearance of many members of her left-wing family resulted in Marjane being sent to Vienna for schooling before returning to Tehran. But restrictions were too severe: she left to live and finish her studies in Paris.
Animation and its symbolism allows the sweep of history to be compacted into its wholly engaging 96 minute runnning time. Moving yet informative, socially aware yet deeply personal, Persepolis is a humane story of power, politics and individual resilience in the face of adversity.
Nominated for best animated feature Oscar in 2008.
Rating: 75%
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