A prize-winner at Cannes and a box office smash at home, Persepolis has just been chosen as France’s official entry to this year’s Academy Awards. It might not look like your average French film, but this poignant coming of age story is destined to become a classic of French cinema.
The mostly black and white, handdrawn animation is based on codirector Marjane Satrapi’s autobiographical graphic novels, which illustrated her own experience growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Marjane is a feisty little girl, clever and fearless, who outsmarts the ‘social guardians’ and discovers punk, ABBA and Iron Maiden. But when religious extremism sweeps the country, her parents make the painful decision to send the outspoken Marjane overseas. The voice-casting is pitch-perfect and features three generations of wonderful French actresses – real-life mother and daughter Catherine Deneuve and Chiara Mastroianni, and a beautiful performance by Danielle Darrieux as Marjane’s beloved grandmother.Tickets cost €15 which includes a wine reception taking place from 8pm at the IFI.