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Rebel With a Cause

At first glance, the story of Persepolis is a fascinating look at a world very far from our own: the tale of a young girl surviving the Islamic revolution in Iran, fleeing the country in search of safety and freedom. But ten minutes into the animated film (opening December 25) based on Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novels about her life, it’s clear there’s a deeper connection to be made. Isn’t there a chain-smoking, punk-rock, Iranian refugee girl in all of us? The character of Marjane is bold, inquisitive and extreme – but, above all, what she wants is a place to call home.

Directed by Satrapi and Vincent Paraonaud, Persepolis is remarkably true to the book, yet some of it feels left behind, perhaps because there’s no opportunity to linger over favorite moments. Still, the film provides its distinct, mostly aural joys — like hearing Marjane’s beloved mother, as voiced by the tender Catherine Deneuve; and the hard rock-and-roll music the young Marjane loves so much. Spend 90 minutes with the exhilarating Persepolis, and awaken your inner revolutionary.

Persepolis will be released in New York and Los Angeles on December 25. Other cities follow in January.