Post by klep on Mar 26, 2018 6:40:25 GMT -6
MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 3/26: Persepolis
IT'S LADIES' WEEK!
Children don't ask to be born into oppressive regimes, but they still are. They still have to live and grow up under the yoke of totalitarianism. So how does that work? Kids are inherently questioning and curious; defiant and rebellious. How do they make it to adulthood?
Persepolis is the autobiographical tale of Marjane Satrapi (voiced by Chiara Mastroianni), both its director and the author of the comic from which it is adapted. Born in Iran, Satrapi was just old enough to grasp what was happening when the Shah fell, and came of age during the Islamic Republic.
As a child young Marjane was spunky and energetic. Tales of revolution excite her, and the real thing even moreso. But as we all know the revolution did not deliver the freedom it promised, and things swiftly became worse than they had been before. With the Iran-Iraq war giving opportunity for additional restrictions, any kind of culture deemed inappropriate by the government became contraband - a problem for a burgeoning young metalhead like Marjane.
Marjane was fortunate enough to have family that understood and supported her desire for freedom and self-expression, but also smart enough to know when she needed to be reined in to keep her alive. To be safe, they send young Marjane away for school. But Vienna is not much better. On her own as she goes through puberty, Marjane is forced to deal with the common traumas of heartbreak as well as unrelenting racism. It's ultimately enough to crush her - at least, temporarily - and send her back home. She tries to behave, but it's not long before the old Marjane comes back, and she's forced to leave Iran once more - this time for good.
Marjane's story is told with beautiful animation that allows for easy slides out of realism when called for - sequences involving her terrible breakup and the agonizing changes of puberty are particular highlights. But what really makes Persepolis special is that it never loses sight of the complexity at hand. It helps explain how people live in fascist regimes like Iran's. Their families are there, and as long as they're careful with what they do and who they trust, life can seem almost normal most of the time. Until it isn't.
Trying to live a full life under fascism means walking a razor's edge. If you're lucky like Marjane you can live long enough to get out, but if you're not you'll face the gallows or worse. The answer to how kids grow up under oppression is that they do much the same as anywhere else - it's just that fewer of them make it.
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 4/2: Ishtar
BOONDOGGLE WEEK!
One of Hollywood's most infamous productions, Elaine May's Ishtar is our Movie of the Week for Boondoggle Week! Starring Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty as mediocre songwriters seeking their fortune in Africa, Ishtar is notorious for its troubled production and wild cost overruns. Join us for our discussion next week; Ishtar is available for rent on Amazon Video, though it is not free for Prime members.
NEXT PICTURES SHOW PODCAST for 3/22: Thoroughbreds
This week's podcast closes out with Thoroughbreds, which unfortunately I will be unable to see before press time. But fear not! We should have an essay for you regardless on Wednesday. Thoroughbreds is still in a theater near you, if you're lucky.
IT'S LADIES' WEEK!
Children don't ask to be born into oppressive regimes, but they still are. They still have to live and grow up under the yoke of totalitarianism. So how does that work? Kids are inherently questioning and curious; defiant and rebellious. How do they make it to adulthood?
Persepolis is the autobiographical tale of Marjane Satrapi (voiced by Chiara Mastroianni), both its director and the author of the comic from which it is adapted. Born in Iran, Satrapi was just old enough to grasp what was happening when the Shah fell, and came of age during the Islamic Republic.
As a child young Marjane was spunky and energetic. Tales of revolution excite her, and the real thing even moreso. But as we all know the revolution did not deliver the freedom it promised, and things swiftly became worse than they had been before. With the Iran-Iraq war giving opportunity for additional restrictions, any kind of culture deemed inappropriate by the government became contraband - a problem for a burgeoning young metalhead like Marjane.
Marjane was fortunate enough to have family that understood and supported her desire for freedom and self-expression, but also smart enough to know when she needed to be reined in to keep her alive. To be safe, they send young Marjane away for school. But Vienna is not much better. On her own as she goes through puberty, Marjane is forced to deal with the common traumas of heartbreak as well as unrelenting racism. It's ultimately enough to crush her - at least, temporarily - and send her back home. She tries to behave, but it's not long before the old Marjane comes back, and she's forced to leave Iran once more - this time for good.
Marjane's story is told with beautiful animation that allows for easy slides out of realism when called for - sequences involving her terrible breakup and the agonizing changes of puberty are particular highlights. But what really makes Persepolis special is that it never loses sight of the complexity at hand. It helps explain how people live in fascist regimes like Iran's. Their families are there, and as long as they're careful with what they do and who they trust, life can seem almost normal most of the time. Until it isn't.
Trying to live a full life under fascism means walking a razor's edge. If you're lucky like Marjane you can live long enough to get out, but if you're not you'll face the gallows or worse. The answer to how kids grow up under oppression is that they do much the same as anywhere else - it's just that fewer of them make it.
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 4/2: Ishtar
BOONDOGGLE WEEK!
One of Hollywood's most infamous productions, Elaine May's Ishtar is our Movie of the Week for Boondoggle Week! Starring Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty as mediocre songwriters seeking their fortune in Africa, Ishtar is notorious for its troubled production and wild cost overruns. Join us for our discussion next week; Ishtar is available for rent on Amazon Video, though it is not free for Prime members.
NEXT PICTURES SHOW PODCAST for 3/22: Thoroughbreds
This week's podcast closes out with Thoroughbreds, which unfortunately I will be unable to see before press time. But fear not! We should have an essay for you regardless on Wednesday. Thoroughbreds is still in a theater near you, if you're lucky.