Snob Movie Review: Persepolis

Another early review, Persepolis opens Christmas Day under limited release.

Directed by Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrape, and based on her book which is more of an autobiographical comic book, Persepolis is the best animated film to come out in many years. It won the Jury Prize at this Cannes this year, and was nominated for the Palme D'Or.

Don't be confused, this is no kids movie. This is a well crafted adult story, bursting with creativity. Marjane is a young girl that grows up in Iran during the revolution, moves to Vienna for high school, eventually returns to Iran, only to leave again, for good.

The trials and tribulations of an intelligent young lady, makes the story completely universal, but somehow completely unique. Filled with genuine emotion, and genuine laughs, the storytelling is what shines here.

However, it's also drawn so beautifully. With stark black and white, and backgrounds that nods to Fritz Lang and the early German silent films, the animation is wonderfully creative.

In person, I found the author to be a tad annoying, but the wonderful Catherine Deneuve (the Belle du Jour!) is still beautiful, and there were some legitimate tear eyed folks, most of them crusty old critics themselves.