Week 9 - Wide World of Comics (Persepolis)

I remember being in high school and watching the film Persepolis after school with some friends in my filmmaking class. I had no prior knowledge of the creator's background or that it was a graphic novel beforehand. Truthfully, I don't remember anything about the film. All I knew was that it had a very visually appealing style, it was nominated for an Oscar, and it left me utterly depressed by the end. So I thought this week, I would take a trip down memory lane and go to source of it all.

Persepolis is the autobiographical story of the the author, Marjane Satrapi, and documents her childhood through early adulthood during the Islamic Revolution in Iran. As a child she has a wide imagination and becomes increasingly invested in the world of politics. She's oblivious to just how dangerous her environment/surroundings are until war between Iran and Iraq forces her out of her home and to Europe.

The book is unlike your usual graphic novel. It's tone is very serious and it makes you really think about the world around you. Some kids have to grow up in environments that are way more dangerous than others, like Iran (or the Middle East in general). It made me feel for Satrapi and everything she went through (censorship, war, etc.). I don't know if this is a selfish thing to say, but this story made me realize just how lucky I am to have grown up in a safer location.

On a positive note, the visual style is very simplistic and easy to follow. Black and white are the only colors visible. No grays, no soft shading. Just stark contrast between white and black. The film also uses shapes and patterns to illustrate the unique textures and environments of the story. That being said, I think the film looked a lot more clean and fluid.