If you think animated films are made for children, think again. Based on the Iranian Marjane Satrapi's series of graphic novels, this beautifully drawn black-and-white epic, made in France by Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud, is a coming-of-age story about growing up before and after the Iranian Revolution which will appeal to older children but is equally designed for an adult audience.
It is highly political, has plenty of earthy sexual references and is never likely to be shown in Tehran except as an illegal video. Marjane, its feisty protagonist, is brought up by her intelligent, free-spirited family hoping against hope that the end of the Shah's cruel regime will bring freedom and prosperity.
But the religious crackdown and war with Saddam's Iraq put paid to that. And the more the girl questions the dogma, the more she is made to feel guilty.
Eventually, Marjane is sent to a Viennese boarding school where she will be safer. But she returns home unconvinced that the West has much more to give her.
With the voices of European stars Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve and Danielle Darrieux complementing the superb animation, the tale springs to life magnificently, showing the terrible nature of religious repression upon a young girl with "Punk is not ded" on the back of her T-shirt, but still lightening the mood with music and a myriad of pop culture references. One thing is certain. You will never have seen anything quite like this before.
Persepolis
Cert: 12A
