Persepolis Film Review
Persepolis film revolves around the events that took place in Iran. The main actor, Marjane Satrapi, hails from a middle-class family, which is unhappy with the fundamentalist Islamic regime. Palmer (51) states that at the beginning of the film, the main Actor Marjane takes the viewers back to her childhood when she witnessed several injustices practiced on the society by Islamic fundamentalists. It is also at the beginning of the film that viewers get to know the middle-class position of Marjane’s family and their involvement in political rallies and protests. In the middle of the film, Marjane goes against the provisions of the Islamic rulers and is constantly in and out of trouble.
The frequent rebellion and her troublesome character compel her parents to take Marjane to Austria. However, in Austria, the young Marjane is annoyed by the character of the nuns and is sent out of the home when she behaves in a manner contrary to the requirements of the Catholic religion. Towards the end of the film, Marjane returns home but continues demonstrating her western behavior, which disregards the norms and beliefs practiced in Iran. Since Marjane continued rebelling against the provisions of the state, a factor that would lead to her imprisonment, her mother insisted that she left the country. The film ends when Marjane is in a taxi and presents a demonstration of confidence from her concerning her place of origin.
The themes that are evident in the film include freedom of worship, political stability, and gender parity. From the film, several events transpire because of the strong beliefs held by the Islamic leaders of the time. Palmer (51) elucidates that during her childhood, Marjane becomes a victim of the rules and provisions dictated to the society by the Islamic leaders. As such, the society has to abide by the rules or face severe punishments. It is practical in the film that the country does not permit freedom of worship and citizens should profess Islamic religion irrespective of their orientations.
Consequently, the theme of political instability becomes clear from the several instances of violence that erupted after the election. After the election, a section of the society is unhappy with the results. Therefore, they engage in violent protests and initiate instances of war in the country. The theme of gender disparity is very clear from the various challenges that the young Marjane experiences during her time in Iran. As a young girl, Marjane witnesses the oppressive society compelling women to wear hijabs and dress in a manner that overrides their personal preferences. The challenges make her rebellious and eventually lead to her exit from the country.
The film plays a very crucial role in presenting the challenges that societies living in Islamic states experience. From the film, viewers get to understand the oppressive nature of governance practiced by leaders who profess misguided Islamic provisions (Palmer 51). Moreover, the film is very essential because it encourages others in society especially those going through similar experiences to fight for their freedom using legal and diplomatic avenues. It is fundamental to state that in the absence of the film, several individuals would not know these challenges. As a result, the roles played by institutions that champion for freedom of worship, human rights, child rights, and women rights in these countries could not materialize. Therefore, the film is one that needs recommendations from stakeholders who advocate for the rights of all individuals around the globe.
Works Cited
Palmer, Tim. Brutal intimacy: Analyzing contemporary French cinema. Middletown, Conn: Wesleyan University Press, 2011. Print.