hj
Film Image by Marjanne Satrapi & V Paronnaud
From
the opening titles, there is a playful nostalgia. There begins an image of a petaled flower plucked by the wind from its root, drifting about from one scene to another, whimsical. This would come to resemble the life our main character Marjane would lead in this coming of age tale, set against a backdrop of socio-political turmoil.
The film opens with Marjane at the Orly airport in Paris seemingly about to board a plane to Tehran. She dons her headscarf and heads to check in, and when asked for a ticket, she sighs in dismay, not moving forward in her plan. Ultimately deciding to sit in place and reflect, cigarette in hand, she begins recalling memories of her childhood.
What was a world of colour is then overtaken by black and white imagery of a much younger Marjane who steals us from the present to join her in the history and telling of her life.
Persepolis takes a look into the several oppressive regimes that plagued Iran and how its residents fought to survive and retain a semblance of normalcy in their country's confounding and ever restrictive climate, during and post its revolution. The decision to have the film animated gives a dreamlike quality to a lot of the charged subject matter tackled.
Told
initially by the voice of young Marji around age four, an impressionable and openly curious tone begins the journey. Our protagonist loves adidas sneakers and Bruce lee, she desires to be old enough to shave her legs, and to also be a prophet. She is lively and has typical excitable quirks available to any girl her age.
However
the changes of Iran's leadership would alter her life and those around her drastically. Coming to define the dynamics of her family life as well as her own destiny.
A passionate kinship between Marji and her uncle Anoosh, an activist who was held prisoner for many years, would open her mind to the many revolutionaries helping to shape Iran's future. It would also end in tragedy as Anoosh is re-imprisoned and killed, devastating little Marji who now grows older.
As
time passes and stricter rules are enforced, Marjane develops an adventurous and daring spirit. The influence of her highly informed and frank family would groom her to be brave, outspoken and astute, also something of a troublemaker in a world that required complete compliance. Her parents send Marji to Vienna, afraid that her nature would surely be her undoing and cause her death.
In
Europe Marjane is faced with a different culture with many nuances she doesn't understand. The level of freedom she experiences is matched only by her feeling of isolation as she yearns for the familiarity of home and family. She has new friends and lovers who distract her from her minds painful wanderings, while at once reminding her through their own lives and perceptions of how different she feels from them.
Realising
that difficulty and harshness aren't just experiences unique to Iran, but also find their own versions in Europe, she returns home. As Marjanne continues to grow and rediscover Iran anew, there is in tandem a continuous discovery of self. Love, freedom and belonging are constant sources of exploration for her, and with each misstep made is a desire to grow and align with her true identity and desires.
As
we jump back into the present world of colour at the airport, Marji finds herself having to reconcile the flurry of memories, the black and white hauntings of people and places from her past that she cannot change or return to.
Film stills courtesy
Satrapi, M. Paronnaud, V. dir 2007. Persepolis. France & Iran.
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