Persepolis (2007)

Persepolis is a powerful, bittersweet animated coming-of-age drama that adapts Marjane Satrapi’s graphic memoir. Told through stark, expressive black-and-white animation and the voice of an older Marji looking back, the film follows a precocious Iranian girl as she grows up amid the upheaval of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, is sent abroad to Vienna for her education, and eventually returns to a homeland—and a self—that have both been transformed. Watching Persepolis you’ll experience a tightly personal view of historical events: the excitement of revolutionary hope, the shock and oppression of the new regime, the confusion and alienation of exile, and the awkward, often painful work of trying to belong. The film balances dark humor and candid irony with moments of raw emotional intensity, grounded in warm, fiercely loyal family relationships. Its minimalist visuals sharpen the story’s emotional truths, making political history feel intimate and immediate. Expect to be moved, provoked, and occasionally made to laugh through pain—Persepolis offers both an accessible history lesson and a deeply human portrait of identity, resilience, and the costs of speaking out. Ideal for viewers who appreciate animated films for adults, autobiographical storytelling, and politically charged character dramas.

Actors: Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve, Gena Rowlands

Directors: Vincent Paronnaud, Marjane Satrapi

Runtime: 96 min

Genres: Animation, Biography, Drama

7.8 /10 90 /100 8.0 /10 8.3 /10