Not to be missed

Marjane Satrapi has turned out over a dozen graphic novels so far; this film is based on Persepolis 1, published in 2000 - there are 3 more in this series: Persepolis 2, 3, and 4. I bought the first couple based on just seeing the preview of the movie; fell in love with her style immediately. The film brings these stories - which is Marjane's story - to life brilliantly, presenting us with some of the most stunning and original animation ever created for the screen.

This is a complex movie, teeming with contradictions, and it works on all the levels it aspires to. It's hilarious, absurd, emotional, tragic, giddy, political, charming, wise, inspiring, poetic, poignant and moving to the point of being heart-breaking. It's a film that everyone should see, regardless of race, gender, class structure, religion, all the garbage that divides people - "Persepolis" masterfully and subversively transcends all of that by being, at its core, true to Satrapi's personal story, which becomes our story, our collective human story. Not to be missed.