As a huge fan of the graphic novel Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, I fully expected the lines to the animated film adaptation to be pouring out the door around the block. "I better get out here and stand in line," I told my husband as soon as we hit the nearest corner to the theater.

After thirteen years of witnessing my movie mania, he knew better than to argue. I ran to the theater, shocked to find an empty lobby and tickets still remaining. Was I the only die hard fan counting the days til the movie release?

Inside the theater, things were more as I expected. No seats left, a quiet hush in the room, lots of whispered, excited conversation. That and one of my best friends, climbing across the aisle in front of me, with three children in tow, anxious to find their seats.

Persepolis? you ask. I've never even heard of this movie! Let alone the book.

Well, let me induct you into a secret society of memoirs and stories told through the pages of what appears to be innocent comic books. Persepolis, the tale of an Iranian girl growing up in the wake of the deposition of the Shah, the Iran/Iraq war and the Islamic Revolution, is told in simple black and white pictures, by the principal herself--artist, activist and graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi. This is no ordinary comic. For starters, you have to wade through the Current Affairs/Middle East section of the bookstore to find the novel in the first place. And unlike ordinary comics, Satrapi's story is true. Her honest account of life as a child in Iran serves as both coming of age novel and light-hearted history lesson on everything you missed in school about Iranian politics in the 1980's. I read these books (two volumes in black and white) completely riveted. What better way to learn about the history of Iran than through the eyes of a child, a tormented teenager, a confirmed rebel and revolutionary?

Persepolis (originally published in France in the form of serial novels) took Europe by storm. Not only did these novels tell a compelling story, they also served as an ode to the ideals that undergird freedom and democracy in the first place. To understand what I mean, I wholeheartedly recommend you check out the English language versions, available through Amazon and just about any major bookstore.

When I heard the books would be adapted for the big screen, I was not only thrilled, but also curious. How do black and white comics translate to a medium that thrives on high technology and all the latest advances in cinematography? I was not disappointed. In the do-it-yourself spirit of graphic novelists everywhere, Satrapi insisted in doing the original drawings herself with a trusted partner. Not only that, she wanted hand-drawn animation--something that has not happened in France in twenty years.

The results are exquisite. A timeless story of a young girl growing up in Iran, in black and white, with all the charm and beauty of an old classic. I was struck by these simple means really affected me as the viewer. As someone familiar with the books, I knew the storyline by heart; still, seeing that story unfold in black and white, in French, impacted me on a soul level. Satrapi doesn't hold back in this film. All the angst, the drama, the uncertainty of choosing freedom over family in chaotic times really hit home. Something about seeing those simple black and white frames fully animated helped me connect the anguish of that choice on a new level.

I could say more, but you should steal away for your own foray into the world of Iranian history, childlike trust and cinematic delight. Persepolis plays nationwide this weekend.

Check out these blogs for more reviews and thoughts of the movie Persepolis:
Uprising Radio
Spinooti
Jelly Jules
Bamboo Nation