Persepolis

Today marks the first day of the third month on our trip around the sun. That's right, it's March and on this episode I wanted to highlight a film that touches on a theme that fits the month. It's a month which sees Spring come into view, a host for all things St. Patrick's Day, and a bunch of other things as well. March also signifies National Peanut Butter Day, which for a peanut butter fanatic like myself is well worth celebrating. March is also Women's History Month and it is that theme where our subject today fits. A film about one woman's journey and lessons we can take from her regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or race.

So if you're like me and you enjoy film and the impact and emotions they convey, then grab a glass of your preferred liquid and join me for the next little while. For me, that's a warm mug of ginger tumeric tea from our friends at Rishi. So sit back, relax, and let's talk about the love of film. Welcome to Glazed Cinema.

I can't speak for countries outside of America as I'm unfamiliar with traditions, but March signifies Women's History Month. A time to reflect on the amazing women in our past who have helped to carved out pathways for our current generation and the others doing amazing things today to help women of future generations. Today, I wanted to touch in a tale that touches on many different themes and one that gas inspired so many through the story it unfurls. Themes of courage, perseverence, tenacity, and identity. Themes that to me reflect what our neighboring months of Black History and Women's History Months represents. The will to make strides for the betterment of others despite obstacles, threats, and circumstances.

Our subject today is an autobiographical telling a graphic memoir by Marjane Satrapi who not only wrote, but illustrated the book as well. The movie adaptation is also directed by the author and is an animated project, with art taking inspiration from its print counterpart.

Our story begins with a young woman entering the Orly Airport in Paris. She looks tense and uneasy as she strolls through toward her destination. She wears a red coat, black pants and shoes and carries a bag in hand. She stops at the Arrival and Departure monitors to see her gate and time. She sports a purse aroung shoulder that is embraced by her long flowing hair. As she squints we see her destination on the monitor...she is headed to Tehran. A slow desolve blends the trip duration to her image as she looks at herself in a mirror. She's in a bathroom now and she has donned a hijab over her head in preparation for her arrival. Next to her is an older woman who glanced dirty looks through the mirror, permeating ignorance and judgment. We next see her at the ticket counter and then sitting on an airport bench smoking a cigarette and voices enter our conciousness. We hear "Marjie, slow down" as a young girl who is in black and white animation passes by the woman we've been following. As the young girl runs and jumps into her mother's arms we have left the present and are now firmly in the woman's past. The woman and the girl are one and the same and her name is Marjane, who is headed back to her childhood home of Iran.

Persepolis tells the tale of Marjane Satrapi, which follows her from a young girl in her childhood in Tehran through to her adulthood in Europe. The story is told through colorful present day illustrations and black and white illustrated flashback sequences. Not only did she write it, but she's also responsible for the illustrations that make up the book as well. The author embarked on the journey of putting pen to paper for a specific reason.

She wanted to write about her life and to provide the westen world with an alternate image of Iran and began a memoir of her life. Marjane, who earned a Master's degree in Visual acommunication also did all the illustrations herself, which the movie animation is based on. When asked to adapt the book into a movie she was hesitant at first, but agreed and made her directing debut with the feature. Keeping true with the illustrative form was also important and is very well done in the film.

The animation done throughout the film is nothing flashy, in fact, most of it has no color at all. It's also done using all flats, but the style coupled with the emotionally and dramatically rich story makes it come alive in a beautiful way.

There's not much for me to tell in terms of history or backstory here since Persepolis is a history itself. Plus, let's be honest, my goal is to entice you to press play to experience her story for yourself and let's be real...my commentary would be less impressive than what the audial, visual, and contextual journey of the film will give you and leave you with. I will however provide some details and scenes as always spoiler free.

Marjane grew up in Iran during the 1978 Revolutuon that saw the overthrow of the Pahlavi Dynasty, who had ruled the country for fiftty-four years. The revolution took Iran and the world by surprise as millions took to the streets of Tehran in protest. Through demonstrations and wide spread unity it only lasted a marrer of months, from February to early April. As the smoke cleared, the Shah's army declared neutrality, which soon resulted in the overthrow of the Pahlavi Dynasty. It's in the early flashback sequences of Persepolis that we see what this time was like for Marjane, her family, and the country as a whole.

As she gets older, the country gets older with her, adapting new laws and regulations. Eventually things become dangerous and her parents send her to Vienna to finish schooling. Among them is the censoring of art from the outside world. In one of my favorite sequences we see Marjane confront these ideas head on.

She leaves her house to buy a new cassette tape after asking her mother for fifty Tomans. As she walks out onto the street she soon approaches two lines of men in black trenchcoats. As she passes they mutter band names, hoping to make a sale. They remind me of the people you might run into in New York City, selling watches, sunglasses, and everything in everything in between. They call out names and products like Stevie Wonder, Julio Iglesias, Pink Floyd, Jichael Mackson, Lipstick, Nail Polish, Playing Cards. She pays them no mind until one says, "Iron Maiden". After bartering, she buts the tape for fifty Toman. After the exchange they all scatter as teo women approach them and grab Marjane. They point out her sneakers, Michael Jackson oin, and vest that has "Punk is not Ded" etched across the back and threathen to bring her to the committee. After some pleading they walk away and next we see Marjane at home with a tennis racket, playing air guitar to her new cassette tape and headbanging with delight.

At another ooint in the movie, when Marjane is older, we see ber grapple with new clothing regulations. Students are called to a meeting during which men are on one side of the room and women on the other.

They say that women can no longer wear wide-legged pants and makeup. They also announce that women need to wear an extended scarf that covers all of their hair. Before adjourning the meeting they ask for questions. After some delay, Marjane raises her hand and speaks up, citing criticism on these new regulations. Specifically that men do not have any regulations on their dress codes, stating, "I just don't understand why, as a woman, you don't think I'd be affected by a man in skin tight pants, but you're worried they'll be turned on by a few less inches of veil?"

After this exchange she is back home with her grandmother who upon learning of Marjane's retort says something I found really profound. She exclaims, "Don't ever forget...Fear is what lulls our mind to sleep and makes us forget our conscience. Fear also turns us into cowards, but what you did took courage and I'm so proud of you."

Persepolis is a wonderful story with a lot to say and there are so many fantastic sequences, which I won't spoil for you. The image I chose as the hint for this episode is one of them. Persepolis was released in 2007 and was a hit worldwide. It was awarded several awards including the Sutherland Trophy by the BFI and the Jury Prize at Cannes, both of which recognize a film for its originality and its spirit of inquiry.

When creating the story of Persepolis, Mrs. Satrapi wanted to convey her home, country, childhood, and experience in a relatable way. She set out to tell her story, but successfully allows us to see ourselves in the story, imagining what we might have done in the same circumstances. Persepolis is a ttiumph for that universality, which has reached so many people the world over.

Persepolis is a wonderful tale packed with many emotions and themes that are affecting and moving. It's a story worth experiencing and one we can all take something from. If you're looking for something to watch that will take you on a journey or experience a unique story, look no further than this movie. I highly recommend you press play on Persepolis, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

If you'd like to watch Persepolis for yourself you can find it on a variety of streaming services. At the time of this recording you can find it on services like Vudu, YouTube, Prime Video, Google Play, and Apple TV for $2.99 or $3.99 to rent.

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