Graphic

[Ingrid wants to star in her own graphic novel; 11:45am, 2/17/08]

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I joined up with a local film-going group to see Persepolis yesterday afternoon. Wonderful film, animated in the style of the graphic novel by Marjane Sartrapi about growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. It's a very personal story about her coming of age both in Iran and in Vienna, where her family sends her as an outspoken teenager at a time when bravado could easily get one killed. It's also full of universal themes of growing up, leaving family, learning to come to terms with who one really is, and exile -- being out of place both the new world and back home. The characters, despite the flatness of the animation, were wonderfully brought to life by a script that captures much with a few perfectly pitched strokes -- history and memoir, both somber and humorous -- and by the voices of actors Chiarra Mastroianni as Marjane and Catherine Deneuve, Mastroianni's mother, who plays Marjane's mother. Marjane's inimitable grandma (played by Danielle Darrieux), nearly steals the show as the kind of grandma everyone wishes they had.

It was the first time I'd met up with the group and it was fun. We went out for a bite to eat and talked about the movie afterwards. Interesting people, multicultural, and obviously all interested in film. I was going to dropkick my NetFlix account (currently on hold), but from the list of "but wait, you have to see..." movies I picked up from one meeting, I may need to reinstate it. Still, it's most fun to go out to see films on the big screen, and especially with others who enjoy unusual and interesting films.

Comments

[marja-leena]

Sounds like an interesting group to spend time with! Thanks for the film recommendation, will add it to my list. Must read the book first though, also added to my reading list.

[Lorianne]

Persepolis was the summer reading program book at Keene State several years ago, and it was by far the most popular with students. Most of the summer reading selections are multicultural in some way, and students usually bridle against being "preached at" on the theme of diversity. But with Persepolis, they connected with the understated style of the graphic novel format. The book shows (literally) how you can say a lot with very little "saying." It's good to hear that aspect translated well on screen.

[joanna]

I've thought of teaching the book to my class--or of making it a field trip. I'm glad to hear your responses to it.

[mm]

Nice photo.

It's wonderful that there are so many groups in your new place of residence - walking, going to see a film ...

[Leslee]

Thanks, all. Yes, excellent film. The novel looks like it fills in a lot more detail - but I bet you could go in either direction (novel first or movie first) and enjoy it. And yes, I'm enjoying all the fun options here. There are really too many - I have to cut out many things I'd like to do in favor of the downtime I also need!

[Lucy]

A cinema-going group sounds a good idea, though I often find I need a bit of time to let a film sink in, taking about it immediately might not always be what you'd want... This sounds a good one.

[Leslee]

Lucy: But then I also get more to think about later after talking to the group, because of getting their thoughts about it. Anyway, I've been just once, so I'll have to see how it goes.