Review of Persepolis (2007) by Muhammad G — 15 Jul 2011

I had learned of Persepolis after studying Academy Award nominations for Best Picture when I came across Persepolis, which was nominated in 2007. So, I took the time to rent this and watch it at home, and the film has, like most other mature animated films, amazed me. It is a French film based on a series of graphics novels about a girl's life growing up in Iran. She is soon exported to France as demand of her parents, and she realizes the life outside of the average Iranian woman. This film has probably given a good approach to how it is living in Iran, because you must keep in mind that this takes place during and after the Islamic Revolution, where in the process, all people lost their rights, especially woman. The film shows that there are good and normal people living in Iran, people like to have parties and fun. But it's because of an oppressive government that they can't do those things. If you saw the Hurt Locker, don't think that every person in the Middle East is running around with a f**king bomb strapped to their chest.

What I love about the animation is that it is very simple compared to other animated films. If you go and read the graphic novel, you could tellthat the drawings and inkings in the book are very simple as well. There's a charm in the simplicity of the animation because it makes the film become much more than "just another Kite Runner" or another "oh, it sucks to live here" film. The animation style changes to convey a mood, and it is very unique in that sense. So, it does get depressing in this film at certain points, and it does turn emotional. However, it is not depressing like "The Plague Dogs" was. In fact, there are small moments of humor in the film that are not overused (yeas, because oppression is fun and whimsical). The only problem with the emotion is that it doesn't have that kick over the edge that most other animated film have. It doesn't have that big climax that something like "Akira" or "Watership Down" has. It just sort of ends. However, I'm talking about the last thirty seconds of a 95 minute film.

Overall, it has unique animation, great emotion, and , though based on a graphic novel, does not feel like a comic book film. It is an eye-opener to many aspects of life in the Middle East, and I recommend it to people who love mature animation, as well as character studies. But I must tell you that it is in French and is subtitled.