Rating: 91
Few graphic novels make the transition from the page to the screen that Marjane Satrapi’s “Persepolis” achieves — usually, either the imagery gets distorted or the story doesn’t survive the revision process. Because Satrapi co-directed “Persepolis,” her story of frustrated adolescence in Iran and abroad survives and thrives, with the original hard-line illustrations coming to life with humor and monochromatic beauty.
Persepolis” follows the remarkable life trajectory of Satrapi, born in the waning days of the Shah’s rule. Early on, “Marji” (voiced by Chiara Mastroianni) bucks the harsh admonishments of Muslim extremists and embraces punk culture, living for whatever scraps of Western pop culture she can pick up in the black-market bazaars of downtown Tehran. But when the Shah is forced from power fundamentalists take over the Iranian government, Marji’s feminist attitudes that she learned from her sharp-tongued grandmother become criminalized. Marji is sent to study abroad, but her early adult life is as emotionally dangerous as physical life in Iran.
The DVD edition of “Persepolis” offers two options for viewers: the original French language track and the later English dubbing, with original French voices Catherine Deneuve and Chiara Mastroianni returning with help from Gena Rowlands, Sean Penn and Iggy Pop. French with subtitles is the purest way to experience “Persepolis,” but the transition to English works seamlessly. Either way, “Persepolis” is a beautiful, hilarious and genuinely moving film, and it is proof that computer-free, old-fashioned cell animation can still be the right artistic choice.
– GL