A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Persepolis

Date Viewed: 2/3/08

Details:

Voice talent: Chiara Mastroianni (teenage & adult Marjane)

Catherine Deneuve (mother)

Danielle Darrieux (grandmother)

Simon Abkarian (father)

Gabrielle Lopes (Marjane as a child)

Written & directed by: Vincent Paronnaud & Marjane Satrapi

Score: 1/2

The Review: A bit of history, a bit of autobiography, a bit of politics, even an occasional bit of humor -- an animated, monochromatic editorial about growing up, and life, in Iran. But an incisive commentary, stinging political indictment, or careful documentary? Not really. It's not light, by any means, but it is not unremittingly dark, a mood to which this topic might so easily lend itself.

We follow Marjane from a young child in the final years of the Shah of Iran's reign, through rebellions and wars, into the mid-1990's. Not a feminist tract, it is nonetheless clearly viewed from a woman's perspective -- and its treatment of the chador and the explicit inequality of the sexes in religious Iran is particularly trenchant. Only two characters are really explored in full: the semi-autobiographical Marjane and her grandmother. Time spent with the family, even uncles and cousins who eventually are killed, seems more background than focal or formative.

The style of animation is intentionally similar to that used by Satrapi in her graphic novels. Simple, effective, almost solely B&W -- except for a portion in subdued colors that appears as the home from which the rest is retrospect and flashback.

Occasionally interesting, but not particularly compelling.

(3-Feb-08)

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