Persepolis

NEW YORK (CNS) -- One of the 2007 Oscar nominees for best animated feature -- the French-language "Persepolis" (Sony Classics) -- is being rereleased with an English soundtrack to reach an even wider audience.

And a good thing, too. For this is a highly unusual but completely absorbing film for adults about the coming of age of a feisty young girl, Marjane (voice of Chiara Mastroianni), in Tehran, Iran, in the troubled years after the fall of the shah's regime.

The story traces her life from age 9 to early adulthood. Through her young eyes, we watch the ensuing fundamentalist repression and violence during her country's war with Iraq. Her beloved Uncle Anoush (voice of Iggy Pop) runs afoul of the authorities, and is imprisoned by the state. When he dies, Marjane temporarily rejects God.

Her politically savvy parents (voices of Catherine Deneuve and Sean Penn) and salty, pragmatic grandmother (voice of Gena Rowlands) send her to school in Vienna, Austria, for safety, but despite trying to fit in with a hip but nihilistic crowd, she can't help feeling like an outsider and eventually goes to pieces when her boyfriend cheats on her.

Eventually, she returns to her family in Iran, but must navigate around the increasingly intolerant authorities.

Co-directors Marjane Satrapi (who based the film on her four autobiographical graphic novels) and Vincent Paronnaud's mostly black-and-white feature gives a valuable historical overview of the social and political situation in Iran. But the film is mostly about a family hanging together in the face of adversity, with its heroine learning the importance of remaining true to herself.

Mastroianni and Deneuve were among the original French voices, with Penn replacing Simon Abkarian and Rowlands replacing the great Danielle Darrieux. But this new version is just fine.

The film contains some rough and crude language and profanity, some brief violent imagery including torture and executions, sexual references, a couple of nonmarital relationships, the acceptability of divorce, and brief drug use; it's acceptable for mature teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops