Persepolis

I saw the film for the first time in the year of its release. But it is still worthwhile. Excellent, nuanced storytelling about the life of a single woman in Iran, who struggles to find understanding in her homeland but unfortunately doesn't necessarily find happiness beyond its borders. But at least she has freedom if nothing else. (26/05/2014)

I had the opportunity to see Persepolis shortly after the start of a film festival, and it became clear to me right away that I was watching the winning film of the 2008 edition. This exceptionally emotive work, based on the internationally renowned graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi, captivated me with its atmosphere, visual style, and the fact that it stands out very distinctly from the vast majority of contemporary commercial animated productions. It is simply in a completely different league. A film that is worlds apart from the mainstream. It doesn't give the viewer anything for free and is not a typical family spectacle. It is a work from the realm of art for a mature audience and one of the absolute peaks of animated production. Overall impression: 100%. I consider it a very successful development of the comic, visually richer and enriched with a typically cinematic dimension. The serious theme is presented in a light-hearted way, with some small jokes and gags (a punk slogan on a jacket, buying records on the black market, dealing with a partner's infidelity). A humorous idyll quickly turns into a minefield through which fanatically indoctrinated children run in search of happiness in the promised paradise... A film about coming of age in a complex political situation in a country that is not free, where a series of banal situations can turn into cruel drama; about the clash of cultures and value systems, about the search for one's own identity, love, and security. It is good to watch the film with a certain understanding of Iranian history, but even without it, it is a great ride. The colors in the film are also guided by the mood of the protagonist - for the most part, it is made in black and white. (16/05/2008)

Punk is not DEAD! Persepolis is not brilliant or innovative. It's not even flawless. However, thanks to its adaptation, pleasantly apt perspective, and, above all, thanks to the sincerity-exuding testimony about growing up in Iran and emigration, Persepolis is a disarming affair - embellished with pleasant details (like the animated Derrick) and an amazing musical component. As a whole, Marjane Satrapi's autobiographical reminiscences create an absolutely enchanting film which was strengthened by its animated form. But those who are familiar with Vincent Paronnaud and adult comics like Epileptic will probably not be surprised. Persepolis also is equal to the vast majority of high-quality fiction art production. Actually, it beats most of it by a mile and is the best animated film since The Triplets of Belleville. P.S.: The original is more interesting and the plot is more extensive, but it’s not as emotional and captivating. (13/12/2007)

I haven’t seen animation this good in a really long time. Today, the popular thing is to make things as colorful as possible and to make the movie in 3D on top of that. On the one hand, the animation in Persepolis looks fairly simple and, on the other hand, it exudes so much emotion that you will feel it as well. What’s more, the authors tell a very interesting story of a young girl at a time of Iran’s transition into a totalitarian state and it looks that it’s doing so in a fairly objective form. An animated film for adults that awoke a country like Iran to express and show what it thinks about western culture. In my opinion it’s pretty telling and factual… (15/12/2018)

This animated movie for adults is impressive due to its originality and creativity, amusing with great humor and fulfilling with its touching narrative of a life story that presents enough material for a feature drama. The picture is made more unique by the purely female view of certain things, often resulting in the best jokes. (27/11/2007)