Persepolis

90

Sony Pictures Classics (95 minutes)
Vincent Paronnaud , and Marjane Satrapi
Catherine Deneuve , and Chiara Mastroianni

Rating: PG-13 for mature thematic material including violent images, sexual references, language and brief drug content

Summary: Persepolis is the poignant story of a young girl in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. It is through the eyes of the precocious and outspoken 9-year-old Marjane that we see a people's hopes dashed as fundamentalists take power--forcing the veil on women and imprisoning thousands. Clever and fearless, Marjane outsmarts the "social guardians" and discovers punk, ABBA, and Iron Maiden. Yet when her uncle is senselessly executed and as bombs fall around Tehran in the Iran/Iraq war, the daily fear that permeates life in Iran is palpable. (Sony Classics)

David Ansen
Newsweek:
(100) It's not to be missed in any language. In a year that has given us such marvelous animated movies as "Ratatouille" and "Paprika," this vibrant, sly and moving personal odyssey takes pride of place.

Claudia Puig
USA Today:
(100) Cinematic poetry in black and white. It also is a deeply affecting tale of the power of resilience and an unflagging sense of humor through the worst of situations

Dana Stevens
Slate:
(100) A completely different kind of animated movie that, even more than "Ratatouille," reimagines what the medium can do.

Glenn Kenny
Premiere:
(100) While avoiding specious bromides about universality, Persepolis insists on communicating with its audience, and insists that communication and empathy are the keys to our survival.

Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly:
(100) The movie sparkles with witty self-awareness.

J.R. Jones
Chicago Reader:
(100) If "Ratatouille" taught the world that rats have feelings too, Persepolis teaches the same thing about the people of Iran, who in the current political climate are probably in greater danger of being eradicated.

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