Persepolis
Persepolis
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Watch-outs
What this film brings
Content barometer
Violence
3/5
Notable
Fear
3/5
Notable tension
Sexuality
1/5
Allusions
Language
1/5
Mild
Narrative complexity
3/5
Complex
Adult themes
2/5
Present
Expert review
Persepolis is an autobiographical black-and-white animated film adapted from Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel, tracing her childhood and adolescence in Iran through the Islamic Revolution and her subsequent exile in Austria and France. The film tackles weighty adult and historical themes including political repression, executions, the Iran-Iraq War with its bombings and losses, life under a totalitarian regime, the loneliness of exile, depression, and a suicide attempt. These elements are not incidental but form the very heart of the narrative, handled with a sincerity and depth that demand genuine emotional and cultural maturity. Parents watching with a young teenager would benefit from explaining the historical context of the Iranian Revolution and opening a conversation about the themes of identity, freedom, and resistance that the film explores with great intelligence.
Synopsis
In 1970s Iran, Marjane 'Marji' Satrapi watches events through her young eyes and her idealistic family of a long dream being fulfilled of the hated Shah's defeat in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. However as Marji grows up, she witnesses first hand how the new Iran, now ruled by Islamic fundamentalists, has become a repressive tyranny on its own.
Difficult scenes
The execution of Uncle Anoosh: Marjane learns that her beloved uncle, who had inspired her with his stories and embodied revolutionary hope, has been rearrested and executed for his political beliefs. The scene is visually restrained but emotionally devastating, as Anoosh was a warm and central figure for Marjane. Sensitive children may be deeply affected by this brutal and unjust loss. The Iran-Iraq War and its consequences: several sequences depict the bombing of Tehran, the deaths of neighbors and relatives, grieving families, and daily life under air raid sirens. The death of a friend whose home is destroyed by a missile is particularly striking. These scenes create an atmosphere of genuine danger and collective mourning that can be distressing for younger viewers. The death at the raided party: a young man fleeing the revolutionary guards falls from a rooftop and dies. The scene carries strong emotional weight, underscoring the blind brutality of repression against Iranian youth. Marjane's suicide attempt: back in Iran after her Viennese exile, Marjane falls into a deep depression and attempts to end her life by overdosing on medication. The scene is handled with gravity and without sensationalism, but it is clearly present in the narrative. This passage calls for careful parental attention, especially for teenagers who may themselves be going through periods of vulnerability. Isolation and homelessness in Vienna: after being expelled from her room, Marjane ends up sleeping on the streets for several weeks in winter and contracts severe bronchitis. This sequence illustrates extreme vulnerability and social distress that young viewers may find disturbing, particularly since it concerns a teenager close to their own age.
Where to watch
Availability checked on Apr 03, 2026
About this title
- Format
- Feature film
- Year
- 2007
- Runtime
- 1h 35m
- Countries
- France, United States of America
- Original language
- FR
- Directed by
- Vincent Paronnaud, Marjane Satrapi
- Main cast
- Chiara Mastroianni, Danielle Darrieux, Catherine Deneuve, Simon Abkarian, Gabrielle Lopes Benites, François Jérosme, Tilly Mandelbrot, Sophie Arthuys, Arié Elmaleh, Mathias Mlekuz
- Studios
- Société des Producteurs de L'Angoa, Sony Pictures Classics, PROCIREP, Soficinéma, France 3 Cinéma, Diaphana Films, Sofica EuropaCorp, Celluloid Dreams, The Kennedy/Marshall Company, La Région Île-de-France, Fondation GAN pour le Cinéma, 2.4.7. Films, French Connection Animations, CNC
Content barometer
Violence
3/5
Notable
Fear
3/5
Notable tension
Sexuality
1/5
Allusions
Language
1/5
Mild
Narrative complexity
3/5
Complex
Adult themes
2/5
Present
Expert review
Persepolis is an autobiographical black-and-white animated film adapted from Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel, tracing her childhood and adolescence in Iran through the Islamic Revolution and her subsequent exile in Austria and France. The film tackles weighty adult and historical themes including political repression, executions, the Iran-Iraq War with its bombings and losses, life under a totalitarian regime, the loneliness of exile, depression, and a suicide attempt. These elements are not incidental but form the very heart of the narrative, handled with a sincerity and depth that demand genuine emotional and cultural maturity. Parents watching with a young teenager would benefit from explaining the historical context of the Iranian Revolution and opening a conversation about the themes of identity, freedom, and resistance that the film explores with great intelligence.
Synopsis
In 1970s Iran, Marjane 'Marji' Satrapi watches events through her young eyes and her idealistic family of a long dream being fulfilled of the hated Shah's defeat in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. However as Marji grows up, she witnesses first hand how the new Iran, now ruled by Islamic fundamentalists, has become a repressive tyranny on its own.
Difficult scenes
The execution of Uncle Anoosh: Marjane learns that her beloved uncle, who had inspired her with his stories and embodied revolutionary hope, has been rearrested and executed for his political beliefs. The scene is visually restrained but emotionally devastating, as Anoosh was a warm and central figure for Marjane. Sensitive children may be deeply affected by this brutal and unjust loss. The Iran-Iraq War and its consequences: several sequences depict the bombing of Tehran, the deaths of neighbors and relatives, grieving families, and daily life under air raid sirens. The death of a friend whose home is destroyed by a missile is particularly striking. These scenes create an atmosphere of genuine danger and collective mourning that can be distressing for younger viewers. The death at the raided party: a young man fleeing the revolutionary guards falls from a rooftop and dies. The scene carries strong emotional weight, underscoring the blind brutality of repression against Iranian youth. Marjane's suicide attempt: back in Iran after her Viennese exile, Marjane falls into a deep depression and attempts to end her life by overdosing on medication. The scene is handled with gravity and without sensationalism, but it is clearly present in the narrative. This passage calls for careful parental attention, especially for teenagers who may themselves be going through periods of vulnerability. Isolation and homelessness in Vienna: after being expelled from her room, Marjane ends up sleeping on the streets for several weeks in winter and contracts severe bronchitis. This sequence illustrates extreme vulnerability and social distress that young viewers may find disturbing, particularly since it concerns a teenager close to their own age.