The animation used for ‘Persepolis’ envelopes the screen with characters that border on realism. This is definitely not a cartoon.

“Persepolis,” a film based on the original graphic novels by Marjane Satrapi, captures the imagination. As rich textures wind their way into the untouched recesses of the mind, Satrapi transports the audience into a dream world.

The animation used for “Persepolis” envelopes the screen with characters that border on realism. This is definitely not a cartoon.

The film’s fast pace mirrors that of a Scorsese film. Elegant lines of black and white panels create a smooth and harmonious setting against which the story unfolds.

Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud have written and directed a film that conveys the struggles of a 9-year-old girl growing up in Tehran during the Shah’s overthrow, the Islamic Revolution, and the Iran/ Iraq war.

The film follows Marjane from youth on through to adulthood as she discovers the freeing power of punk music, self-indulgent nihilist intellectuals, first love and the horror of being torn from her family.

“Persepolis,” was created using traditional animation (trace animators). Each frame was drawn using a felt pen. The black and white animated characters maintain a remarkable consistency throughout the film.

During an interview with Jean-Pierre Lavoignat, producer Marc-Antoine Robert said, “When you see the original graphic novel, you can’t envisage a Pixar adaptation.”

This film bridges the gap between our western world and the repression that Marjane Satrapi and countless others have experienced. “Persepolis” engages the viewer by successfully combining emotion and humor.

However, the film’s most significant achievement is its effective illustration of one girl’s journey as she struggles against fear, hopes for freedom and confronts great sacrifices that are made along the way.

An Academy Award Nominee for Best Animated Feature Film, “Persepolis,” challenges the bounds of modern filmmaking with both its bold message and visual aesthetic.

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