Sunday, June 26, 7 pm
Centre for Socialist Education,
706 Clark Drive, Vancouver (corner of Clark & E. Georgia)
Unceded Coast Salish Territories

France/USA, 2007, dir. Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi, 96 minutes)

Traditionally animated in black and white flashbacks, this Oscar-nominated film tells the story of a girl’s childhood and young adulthood in Iran and in Vienna during the 1980s and ’90s. Marjane Satrapi grew up in a family of revolutionaries opposed to the Shah’s regime and then the Islamic government which took power in 1979. Persepolis literally illustrates her feelings and thoughts as a little girl, following her as fundamentalist control in Iran becomes more strict. When her parents insist she leave the country, we see her struggling to deal with adolescence and missing her beloved family; when she returns, she has to cope with the increasing repression of her freedoms as a woman. Persepolis beautifully balances both the historic and personal issues and pulls the threads together into a compelling narrative, made a bit quirky by the style of presentation, resulting in work that is altogether touching. Along with intelligence and humor, a deep and strong sense of truth infuses every part of the film.

No admission charge, but donations towards our costs are welcome. Coffee and refreshments available. Left Film Nights are presented by the Centre for Socialist Education, Young Communist League, and the Vancouver East Club of the Communist Party of Canada. Call 604-255-2041 or email <pvoice@telus.net> for further information.