The 2007 animated film about a girl growing up in wartime Iran is a story that any adult would find inspiring.
Animation is too often dismissed as a form meant “just for kids.” I am not talking about anime that, especially lately, has gained a whole new kind of appreciation among audiences. I am specifically talking about Western animation — animation created in the United States or Europe. The Simpsons, Futurama and Disney (of course) are common examples of Western animation.
Though anime is quickly rising in popularity with older audiences, I feel like other forms of animation are judged too quickly and easily dismissed as “kid stuff.”
It is as if animation and animated content are beyond the capability of having complex, thrilling themes or any kind of adult atmosphere. I assure you that it is not the case.
Persepolis, a 2007 animated film, is one of the smartest and most intuitive movies I ever have had the pleasure of watching.
Based on the autobiographical graphic novels of the same name by Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis is a coming-of-age story that follows Satrapi’s actual life during and after the Iranian Revolution. Following the bombing of her childhood home, her parents send her to live abroad in Austria, leaving her to discover a world outside of political and social oppression. Wholly embracing the alternative cultures she encounters, Satrapi also learns many lessons in the way of love, self-confidence and pride.
Persepolis is entirely animated in the same style as its source material. The simple black and white animations paired with the abstract designs hidden in the background create an environment that is very pleasing to the eye. It is neither abstract nor bland. It is meant to appear as if the audience is watching a memory. In the same way, the movement of the characters and backgrounds also is very fluid and seems to directly correspond with how Marjane feels about the situation.
The movie is masterfully balanced and, at its heart, a beautiful depiction of what it was like to grow up in the Middle East and Europe during such a pivotal time.
Marjane is one of the most inspiring and outspoken female characters I ever have seen depicted in any of the films I have reviewed so far. She is a picture of beauty and rebellion that I feel is important for any young woman to witness.
To be fair, Persepolis can be disorienting at first if you are not familiar with the history of the Iranian Revolution. The movie, to an extent, assumes that the audience has at least a basic knowledge of Iran’s violent history but doesn't request that viewers know anything too specific.
I think the movie is a great introduction to adult Western animation and also provides a fantastic cross-culture perspective that invites the audience to delve deeper into the subject material and become more invested. The characters are interesting to watch and the scenarios are invigorating. I feel like young women, especially, can learn invaluable lessons from Persepolis, but I think that anyone can watch the movie and be entertained.
Kaitlyn McGarvey is a freshman studying journalism. Have you seen Persepolis? Email her at km451814@ohio.edu or tweet @McGarveyKaitlyn.
