Persepolis Blu-ray

A mostly black-and-white movie animated simply with hand-drawn characters might not be the best showcase for Blu-ray, but it’s not how this movie looks that will draw in audiences. Persepolis, named after the ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire, tells the story of a girl growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Based on creator Marjane Satrapi’s own life—although in interviews in the special features, she is careful to say that this is not a biography, but a story—the movie follows young Marjane through the pain of her uncle’s execution, her fears when she must move to Austria at 14, her return to Iran after high school, and her realization at age 24 that she must leave again, this time forever. Despite the serious plot, Satrapi infuses the film with humor, making it accessible not only to those with an interest in life inside dictatorships, but to anyone who enjoys stories about rebellious women learning to be themselves.

Shelf Talk: In the featurette “Behind the Scenes of Persepolis,” Satrapi says the movie is not political, but acknowledges that politics dog it. With the current political climate surrounding Iran, it will be difficult for this movie to overcome its background. However, that might attract a broader audience (whether they will be interested in Blu-ray over DVD remains to be seen). It also will be sought by those who know of Satrapi’s graphic novels, on which the movie is based.