Persepolis is a small landmark in feature animation. Not because of technical innovation--though it moves fluidly enough, and its drawings have a handcrafted charm forgotten in the era of the cross-promoted-to-saturation CGI-'toon juggernauts--but because it translates a sensitive, introspective, true-to-life, "adult" comic story into moving pictures.
Persepolis
✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ Read critic reviews
France, United States · 2007
Rated PG-13 · 1h 35m
Director Marjane Satrapi
Starring Chiara Mastroianni, Danielle Darrieux, Catherine Deneuve, Simon Abkarian
Genre Animation, Drama
Add to Watchlist
Please login to add films to your watchlist.
When the Shah is toppled during the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Marjane Satrapi's anti-government family is thrilled. As Marji grows up, however, she witnesses firsthand how the new Iran---now ruled by Islamic fundamentalists---has become a repressive tyranny of its own. And, no matter where she runs to, she can't escape the feeling that she doesn't belong.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
The New Yorker by Anthony Lane
There is no denying the boldness of Persepolis, both in design and in moral complaint, but there must surely be moments, in Marjane’s life as in ours, that cry out for cross-hatching and the grown-up grayness of doubt.
Los Angeles Times by Carina Chocano
A familiar story set in an unfamiliar context, it's a paean to the universality of human experience, a testament to the endurance of individuality during great political and fanatical upheaval, and a reminder that even the most complex situations, identities and stories are heartbreakingly simple.
Cinematic poetry in black and white. It also is a deeply affecting tale of the power of resilience and an unflagging sense of humor through the worst of situations
It's not to be missed in any language. In a year that has given us such marvelous animated movies as "Ratatouille" and "Paprika," this vibrant, sly and moving personal odyssey takes pride of place.
The Hollywood Reporter by Kirk Honeycutt
The filmmakers were right to believe that a live-action version of this story would have failed to achieve the universality Persepolis does.
This autobiographical tour de force is completely accessible and art of a very high order.
The two main points Persepolis makes are that strife is relative, and all politics are personal.
It is a vivid, at times heartbreaking, portrait of a life and a nation in crisis.
Users who liked this film also liked
Whale Rider
A contemporary story of family, rejection and triumph.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- New Zealand, Germany • 2003
- Director Niki Caro
- Cast Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis, Grant Roa, Mana Taumaunu
- Genre Drama, Family
- Available on fuboTV, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Tubi TV, Shout! Factory TV, Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel
The Executioner
(El verdugo)
A digger of graves takes to filling them when he takes over as executioner for his retired father-in-law.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Spain, Italy • 1963
- Director Luis García Berlanga
- Cast Nino Manfredi, Emma Penella, José Isbert, José Luis López Vázquez, Ángel Álvarez, Guido Alberti
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on BritBox, Criterion Channel, Britbox Apple TV Channel , Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
Waltz with Bashir
(Vals Im Bashir)
When a young soldier has trouble accessing memories of a massacre, conversations with others help piece his memories together.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Israel, France, Germany • 2008
- Director Ari Folman
- Cast Ari Folman, Ron Ben-Yishai, Dror Harazi, Ronny Dayag
- Genre Animation, Documentary, Drama, War
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
The Triplets of Belleville
(Les Triplettes de Belleville)
Alongside a trio of music hall singers, a grandmother attempts to rescue her grandson.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Belgium, Canada • 2003
- Director Sylvain Chomet
- Cast Betty Bonifassi, Lina Boudreau, Michèle Caucheteux, Jean-Claude Donda, Mari-Lou Gauthier, Charles Linton
- Genre Animation, Comedy, Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
The Sweet Hereafter
A small Canadian mountain community is devastated after an accident leaves a number of its children dead.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Canada • 1997
- Director Atom Egoyan
- Cast Ian Holm, Caerthan Banks, Sarah Polley, Tom McCamus, Gabrielle Rose, Alberta Watson
- Genre Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel
Waiting for the Hearse
(Esperando la carroza)
An Argentine family believes their mother to have died and give her a funeral.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Argentina • 1985
- Director Alejandro Doria
- Cast Luis Brandoni, China Zorrilla, Antonio Gasalla, Julio De Grazia, Betiana Blum, Juan Manuel Tenuta
- Genre Comedy
- Available on No streaming locations found.
The Boys from Brazil
Two Nazi hunters discovers a sinister and bizarre plot to rekindle the Third Reich.
- ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom, United States • 1978
- Director Franklin J. Schaffner
- Cast Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier, James Mason, Lilli Palmer, Uta Hagen, Steve Guttenberg
- Genre Drama, Mystery, Science Fiction
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Tubi TV, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Shout! Factory TV, Freevee, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel
Nine Queens
(Nueve reinas)
Two con artists try to swindle a stamp collector by selling him a counterfeit sheet of rare stamps.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Argentina • 2000
- Director Fabián Bielinsky
- Cast Ricardo Darín, Gastón Pauls, Leticia Brédice, María Mercedes Villagra, Gabo Correa, Pochi Ducasse
- Genre Crime
- Available on Apple TV, Amazon Video
The French Kissers
(Les Beaux Gosses)
A coming-of-age story about a boy in junior high with bad acne, mediocre grades, and a mullet-bedecked best friend.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 2009
- Director Riad Sattouf
- Cast Vincent Lacoste, Anthony Sonigo, Alice Trémolière, Noémie Lvovsky, Emmanuelle Devos, Irène Jacob
- Genre Comedy
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
Last Stop 174
(Última Parada 174)
A ride you'll never forget...
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Brazil, France • 2008
- Director Bruno Barreto
- Cast Michel Gomes, Marcello Melo Jr., Douglas Silva, Cris Vianna, Anna Cotrim, André Ramiro
- Genre Drama, Crime
- Available on No streaming locations found.
The King and the Mockingbird
(Le roi et l'oiseau)
A young couple flees the wrath of an evil king.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 1980
- Director Paul Grimault
- Cast Jean Martin, Pascal Mazzotti, Raymond Bussières, Agnès Viala, Renaud Marx, Hubert Deschamps
- Genre Animation, Family, Fantasy
- Available on Kanopy
Royal Palace
(Palais royal !)
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 2005
- Director Valérie Lemercier
- Cast Valérie Lemercier, Lambert Wilson, Catherine Deneuve, Denis Podalydès, Mathilde Seigner, Michel Aumont
- Genre Comedy
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
Happiness Is in the Field
(Le bonheur est dans le pré)
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 1995
- Director Étienne Chatiliez
- Cast Michel Serrault, Eddy Mitchell, Sabine Azéma, Carmen Maura, François Morel, Patrick Bouchitey
- Genre Comedy
- Available on No streaming locations found.
The Rabbi's Cat
(Le Chat du rabbin)
A rabbi in 1920s Algeria attempts to teach his cat about religion after it gains the ability to speak.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 2011
- Director Joann Sfar
- Cast François Morel, Hafsia Herzi, Maurice Bénichou, Jean-Pierre Kalfon, Daniel Cohen, François Damiens
- Genre Animation, Comedy
- Available on OVID, Fandango At Home, Apple TV, Kanopy, Hoopla
Post Tenebras Lux
After darkness light.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Mexico, France, Netherlands • 2012
- Director Carlos Reygadas
- Cast Adolfo Jimenez Castro, Nathalia Acevedo, Willebaldo Torres, Rut Reygadas, Eleazar Reygadas, Suemi Valderrama
- Genre Drama
- Available on No streaming locations found.
The Look of Silence
A family of survivors confront their son's killers, unafraid of what might happen to them.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Denmark, Indonesia, Finland • 2014
- Director Joshua Oppenheimer
- Cast Adi Rukun, M.Y. Basrun, Amir Hasan, Inong, Kemat
- Genre History, Documentary
- Available on Netflix, Fandor, Fandor Amazon Channel, MZ Choice Amazon Channel, Netflix basic with Ads, Apple TV, Amazon Video, Freevee, Hoopla, Plex Channel
Taxi
(تاکسی)
An exiled filmmaker posing as a cab driver captures incisive portraits of diverse passengers in present-day Tehran.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Iran • 2015
- Director Jafar Panahi
- Cast Jafar Panahi
- Genre Comedy, Documentary
- Available on Kino Film Collection, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, YouTube, Kanopy, Hoopla
The Nobodies
(Les Dissociés)
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 2015
- Director Raphaël Descraques
- Cast Raphaël Descraques, Julien Josselin, Marsu Lacroix, Yoni Dahan, Vincent Tirel, Eléonore Costes
- Genre Comedy
- Available on No streaming locations found.
I'm not usually one for this style of animation, but something about Persepolis just works; the animation captures everything from her youthful exuberance to her intense loneliness with masterful use of color. Although it features poignant moments from Iranian history, the story is so achingly universal: we have all been Marji. It's definitely a must see.
I absolutely adore this film. Persepolis' style of animation is definitely effective in its ability to convey the cruelty of war, political conflict, and discrimination without taking away from the seriousness of these topics. Still, Marjane's portrayal is so endearing - her personal struggles and journey to adulthood are in many ways universal, which makes it possible for young women of various backgrounds to resonate with her character.