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This moving story takes place in Iran during the 70s, where little Marjane Statrapi grows up surrounded by political and civil unrest, as the country struggles to free itself from the Shah’s regime during the Iranian Revolution. After a few casualties close to her, her parents send her to Vienna where she’ll be able to find a ’safer’ education. There she find the expected culture shock, which in itself proves to be a very tough trial for a growing Iranian girl. When she returns she realises her beloved country and her have changed far too much and now she faces the dilemma of deciding where she truly belongs.

Persepolis was cleverly directed by Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi. It was nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Animated Feature Film of the Year in 2008. I imagine it must have been hard not to give it to them.

The visual metaphors are a delight to watch.

As stories go, I think it handles incredibly well very delicate subjects, and the fact that it’s all being witnessed from the point of view of a little girl (at least to start with) kind of eases you into arid territory. The visual metaphors are a delight to watch, such like friends flying away, memories distorted by hate and the terrible process of stopping being a child. You’ll see what I mean once you watch it.

The animation language is charming throughout and the character-acting is brilliantly spot on, it has the sort of details that makes them human despite the fact that they are cartoons, tiny gestures that many animators don’t worry about like little secondary and tertiary movements f the limbs make all the difference in the world. Is almost as if they have rotoscoped over a live cartoon. If only that were possible. Each character bursts with charisma.

I completely endorse this flick to all of you film-watchers, even if you’re not an animation fan you will find yourself immerse in this wonderful black and white world the directors have created, and at one point or another you’ll be able to relate to some small aspect of life as described in the film.