The Genius That Is Persepolis

Persepolis was easily my favorite movie we've watched so far. I have such a soft spot for simple and beautiful 2D animation. I didn't really do much research before watching the movie, and I admit I was expecting a film that was geared more towards a younger audience, which is the stereotype that often goes along with animation. However, I was excited when I figured out it had more of a dark storyline because it's not often we see violence and war portrayed in such a creative and unusual way. I also really loved how the majority of the movie was in black and white. I feel like there is such a wide range of things to do with a black and white color palette and there is so much more room for creativity and flexibility that might not be available with full color. For example, the transitions. There were many shots where the subject was isolated in a background of pure blackness, and then that blackness would transition into something else, like the iris of an eye or smoke. It was so simple yet so well done, and it really flowed with the direction of the film. 

Another thing I love about animation is that it has the ability to tell stories and express certain images in ways that live-action films cannot. With animation, there is so much room for over-exaggeration, and it can add so much to a scene or just the story in general. For example, the scene in which Marjane was talking about her growth spurt and the exaggeration of her hands, nose, eyes, and body growing and popping out at such a fast pace was quite entertaining, and it briefly and perfectly encaptured what puberty feels like. Another great moment was when Marjane arrived at the school and the three nuns rose out of the darkness and toward over her. That moment was so smooth and honestly kind of scary, and I thought it was really clever.

Though the film focused on some pretty depressing events, there was quite a bit of comedy that perfectly balanced out the darkness of the story. The addition of comedy elevates the film and makes it so enjoyable to watch, but it also has the tendency to play with the emotions of the audience. One moment you're doing that nostril-exhale thing, and the next moment your heart drops due to the piles of dead bodies that show up onscreen. It really is quite the experience.

Persepolis gives western audiences a unique chance to learn about historical events that took place in the Middle East and Europe in the late 20th century through the eyes of a young woman. Watching the events unfold from a very personal point of view was quite interesting, but what made it special was the shift of perspective from child to teen to adult. As Marjane and her opinions shift and grow, the audience shifts and grows with her.