Persepolis

I am not sure of how accurate the movie “Persepolis” is, but I did see it. It was very interesting and I did not know that it was a graphic novel. I love the illustrations and the history embedded in it. I find it interesting that Marjane Satrapi based the ‘comic’ off of her childhood and I praise her for it.

Marjane shows her side of questioning. She knows that she should be entitled in knowing why exactly she must wear a veil but, because she is religious, she submits to authority. She is against the so called revolution and wants one of her own. She is very close to her mother and admires her because of her strong belief in change; yet she excludes her daughter. She tells about how the Islamic Revolution brought with it, a very restricted and structured society. The new leader says that bilingual schools are capitalistic and that he wants a ‘cultural revolution’. This was a basic ethnic cleansing.

Marjane has a special Holy Book. She is deeply involved with religion and the values of freedom and equality. She has conversations with God. In school, she is ridiculed for wanting to be a prophet. As a result, she hides her desire from her family. I believe she does this because she does not want to disappoint her parents. The only person she know that will not judge her is her grandmother. She is very understanding towards her and knows how committed she is. Marjane is a lovely young girl in this time because she shows a strong love for her family by wanting unity and for people not to suffer.

During the revolution, Marjane decides that she needs to focus on a rebellion. She makes an effort to protest in her garden. She becomes very engaged in Castro, Marx and Che. She realizes that her efforts are futile unless everyone is participating just like a bicycle as she mentions. She took it upon herself to make a change. I loved the fact that she was so open for her age. Even if her parents did not really approve, she was determined.

She also mentions that she like the comic “ Dialectic Materialism” and it reminded me about the discussion in class about Hegel. I noticed the complexity of the mind that she possessed. I believe that she is very philosophical. Once she becomes unmovable in the face of rebellion, “God” becomes skeptical. I believe the symbolism behind his disappearance is that she has chosen her true destiny.

From what I saw in the movie, she moves away because she cannot keep herself quiet. She wants the whole land to know about the injustice. As a result, she is sent to Austria. There, she is at a constant struggle to find where she belongs. I believe the essence of Persepolis is finding where you belong. When she was in her country, she is at a struggle with Faith and rebellion. Her parents do not want her to protest and religion is shoved into her mind. She is very strong however and does not let people tell her what to do or tell her who she is.