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Rating of
3.5/4
A gritty animated movie.
Matthew Brady - wrote on 07/24/2014
Marjane is precocious and outspoken young Iranian girl who was nine years old during the Islamic Revolution when the fundamentalists first take power--forcing the veil on women and imprisoning thousands. She cleverly outsmarts the "social guardians" and discovers punk, ABBA and Iron Maiden, while living with the terror of government persecution and the Iran/Iraq war. Then Marjane's journey moves on to Austria where, as a teenager, her parents send her to school in fear for her safety and, she has to combat being equated with the religious fundamentalism and extremism she fled her country to escape. I remembered watching this movie years ago on a random film channel, and I watched it and overall I really liked it. I love the animation in this movie, it's so dark and so gritty at times. …
Rating of
3.5/4
Bold Animation and a Story to Match
Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/15/2009
This is a fantastic film that once again proves my point that animation works as well for adults as it does children. This is a coming-of-age story mixed in with history, politics, war, religion and psychology. Yet despite the subject matter, the story never feels bogged down or preachy.
I'll admit that I'm not too keen on Iranian history. This film probably isn't meant to be a primer, either, but it does give some insight into the background of what happens during the Islamic Revolution. The stark black and white images actually bring a lot of life to the film. It's amazing how expressive it turns out to be. Troops marching in a cloud of smoke against a group of protesters, a night sky littered with bombs and anti-aircraft shells, a conversation with the Almighty and Karl Marx - …
Rating of
3/4
Greatly Satisfying
Franz Patrick - wrote on 10/17/2008
This may be an animated film on the outside but don’t let that fool you. This is a heavily political, self-aware, coming of age film that focuses on an inquisitive Iranian girl that turned into a strong Iranian woman. I have to admit that I didn’t understand the politics because I don’t know much about the history of Iran. So, it took me a while to get used to the background of the story. Things really started to pick up when the focus turns to the character; how she had to lose people she loved because of the Islamic Revolution, her immigration to western Europe, her experience with boys, and her eventual return to her home country. I thought this was a very insightful film but the drama wasn’t heavy-handed. In fact, there were a lot of humorous scenes from time to time in order …
Rating of
3.5/4
"Star of my life"
Ghost Seed - wrote on 09/03/2008
::I'm smitten::
This little film as a whole is a simple wonderment in a distinct, pleasant, black and white animation style. It is delightful, despite the heavy concept and complex issues that it deals with along the way.
The character of Marjane interestingly improves in the transfer from comic book to the screen as she narrates her life, and discovery of her self-identity. This emergence of an independent, music loving, deep thinking artist - who went through outside and inner hardships to get there - is something that strikes a chord with many, including me. I strongly identified with the social awkwardness, urgency to rebel, family bond/pride...even her reaction to a mega-heartbreak, including her hazy depression - and the use of a pump-up song to help get you back on your …
