Review of Persepolis (2007) by Irina T — 05 Dec 2010

Whoa this movie's like one of the best animated movie I've seen in a while, since I found out about "A Town Called Panic" a few months ago. Despicable Me was decent but it was too childish for my tastes.

Honestly man this is freaking awesome. I mean WHOA the characters are so real and likeable, and it actually tells the world about Iran, where a lot of people are persecuted just because they're females.

However, the most AMAZING thing about this movie is that it shows the struggle of Asian (especially Middle Eastern) women in the West. I mean, seriously, when Asians go to Europe or USA, they are heavily condemned (especially those who wear veils). I really really really agree with this movie about how people with no freedom in Asia, when given a lot of freedom in the West, appreciate it at first but then tends to like it too much that he forgets where he comes from, his culture, and his values. Westerners are really different from Asians in the sense that Asians have so much culture and values they have to keep. Even I myself am torn between two worlds - one in which I get so much freedom and can do whatever I want, another one in which I have God to believe in and my values that I have to respect, such as filial piety, which is the most important values that the Chinese hold. (I think I have to blame Mr Mao for that).

This movie really speaks out to me, and I think that Marjane has even more personal struggle because she's Muslim and where she belongs is even more conservative than the place where I live now in Asia (well it's practically the biggest Muslim country on Earth but I'm a Christian, but still there are a lot of values that I supposedly have to keep because I'm Asian).

I don't really understand why the title's Persepolis because I find no relation with Greek stuff, but that's not the point. It's a beautiful movie and I really love Marjane as a character. It's so true that many women now fight for freedom and that can happen just because one woman stands up and fights for her rights. I find it hilarious that she likes metal and rock, because it reminds me of myself (even though I'm not into metal much coz they scream too much). Marjane and I are very rebellious in that sense, so I can relate very well to her.

Finally, also, this graphic novel based movie is written by a woman so at least unlike so many other movies, the woman's not the bitch who hurts the innocent man. Here, we are shown with the realities of life where many men are gay and sometimes there are so few guys to choose from because many of them are so bloody irresponsible (like the one who cheats on Marjane and the one who always picks his nose), and many of the nice ones turn gay (like the first guy Marjane dated). It's just the fucking truth that a lot of women are hurt as well. Sometimes I get VERY sick when I see movies and it seems that it's always the women who hurt the men and are irresponsible and bitchy and stupid. That's just bullshit because as a female I've been through a lot and I've been hurt so much by men, and so have many women I don't know. This's probably why I love Persepolis so much.

It's so emotionally fulfilling to find someone who actually makes a graphic novel about freedom, women's rights, and war.

10/10.