1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

From the class discussion materials provided, we learned about Iran’s puritanical theocratic
governmental function and its tumultuous relationship with western culture. This is an important
context to be cognizant of when viewing Marjane Satrapi’s animated feature film Persepolis.
The movie is an adaptation an autobiographical comic of her experiences growing up during the
Iran revolution that took place in the late 1970’s.

The aggressive political upheaval had a direct impact on her daily life and drove the direction of
much of what occurs within it. Satrapi’s family is involved with those who revolted against the
regime, such as her Uncle who was jailed multiple times for defecting. The family would go to
prohibition style parties where they could drink alcohol and listen to western music, all while
evading the domineering religious law of the land. As a teen, Satrapi is even sent away to protect
herself from her own rebellious inclinations. Returning as a young adult, she struggles to live as
a woman in a gender hierarchal society that imposes restrictions on female rights.

According do the material provided, post-revolutionary Iranian film may contain unique
characteristics, topics of the state of the nation and how culture materializes. The stark and
minimal black and white style of Persepolis and the plot’s immediate relationship with the
happenings of Iran qualify this is a classic piece of Iranian cinema.

2) Find a related article and summarize the content.

Richard and Mary Corliss of Time Magazine attended the first screening of the film at the
Cannes film festival in 2007. They recount the praises it held at a relatively early screening time
in the afternoon and recognized the film as a well crafted cinematic work. The Corliss’s
comment on the rarity of an animated autobiographical piece and its ability to remain captivating
from start to finish. Persepolis manages to tell a tale of staunch political nature, while
simultaneously illustrating Satrapi’s rocky transition from childhood to adulthood.

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class. This article supported my view of Persepolis. It
also helped me appreciate how it was able to maintain the storyline of Iran’s growing pains as a
country, as well as Satrapi’s on personal journey. The film deals with topics that are generally
morose in nature but through a filter that allows humor the shine through. It could be classified
as a “dramedy” to some extent. It also worth noting that their reaction is as one of the very first
screeners of the film at a highly prestigious French festival. The views they present seem to hold
up even a decade after the films release.
4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the
screening, class discussions, text material and the article.
Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis is truly a one of a kind cinematic work. The adaptation of her
longform comic book transitioned incredibly well as an animated feature film. Her highly unique
upbringing paired with her talent as a story teller add a rich depth to the already deftly minimal
animations. Seeing the world through her lens as an Iranian woman born in to a revolution is one
of the strongest values that international film has to offer.
The film is deserving of it’s multiple awards and nominations from a host of film institutions
around the world, including a Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature, a Golden
Globe for Best Foreign Feature and two wins and two nominations at the 2007 Cannes film
festival. Marjane Satrapi set an incredibly artful tone with her film and should be regarded as a
must see for any cinema enthusiast.

Corliss, Richard & Corliss, Mary. “Persepolis finds love in the afternoon” Time Magazine. May
23, 2007. Web. May 2, 2018.
"Persepolis Finds Love in the Afternoon"

Persepolis Awards and Nominations via IMDB

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM

1) ( X ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.
2) ( X ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly
explain that in the paper.
3) ( X ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used
indentation and citation within the text.
4) ( X ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in
the text of the paper.
5) ( X ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.
6) ( X ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I
cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.
7) ( X ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.
8) ( X ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research
and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Joseph Lanza Date: May 02, 2018