A colorful childhood in black and white

Think an animated movie is just a tool used by desperate parents to divert a child's attention from tearing the house apart? Well, think again, because "Persepolis," the award-winning French-language film and Best Animated Picture Oscar nominee, is no "SpongeBob SquarePants." "Persepolis" tells a story of love and acceptance, of overcoming the turbulence that follows its heroine's pre-adolescence and extends into adulthood. The film even tackles sociopolitical unrest. This one, folks, is catered to satisfy the mature palate.

In "Persepolis," Iranian director Marjane Satrapi chronicles the recent history of Iran through the eyes of a semi-autobiographical character, also named Marjane Satrapi. The film's title, roughly translated as "The City of Persians," refers to an ancient ceremonial capital of the old Persian Empire, now located in modern Iran. The once-prosperous city is now in an abandoned and ruined state. The name "Persepolis" thus becomes a fitting allusion to the deteriorating conditions in modern Iran during the reign of the Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi in the '80s and '90s, when the proletariat attempted to overthrow the dictatorial Shah and war with Iraq was about to begin.

"Persepolis" is based in a large part on Satrapi's recollections of this era. As she reminisces about her personal experiences growing up, her endearing childhood memories filled with pop culture-infused references to Bruce Lee and Iron Maiden are intertwined with ones of suffering and death.

In one of the movie's most memorable scenes, for instance, Marjane swaggers through the streets of Tehran sporting a Michael Jackson badge and a jacket with the words "Punk is Not Ded" written on the back, only to be reprimanded by elders. Marjane is utterly unaware of the mixed messages she sends by wearing both insignias, making the moment one of many that beautifully captures the identity crises of adolescence mixed with suffocated rule.

As a result of the increasing dangers in her home country, Marjane's parents send her abroad to a French school in Vienna. There she tastes the "elixir" of freedom as she lives a life without oppression and suffering. Yet excessive freedom has its detriments, as the young Marjane is forced to reconcile her persisting love for her distressed country and her thirst for a world of liberation.

"Persepolis" treats this complicated political topic with a unique narrative voice and simple but effective art direction. The predominant use of black and white hues in the animation cleverly symbolizes Marjane's self-discovery in the dark ages of Iranian unrest. If this movie were to be presented as a live-action spectacle, the tone would be much colder, and the important sentiment of child-like idealism giving way to the realities of a harsh world would be lost. Instead, the absence of color, coupled with the animation, actually emphasizes the vibrancy of the film's characters and plot. Like the use of traditional Iranian shadow puppets to expound on a story, "Persepolis' " visual presentation helps transform Marjane's story into a convincing tale.

In addition to the visual elements, the voice recordings in the film also contribute to the warmth of the characters. Apart from the great Catherine Deneuve, who voices Marjane's mother, the rest of the actors are relative unknowns. Nonetheless, they are still capable of effectively capturing the range of emotions required for the difficult subject matter.

Unfortunately, "Persepolis" loses momentum as it arrives at its conclusion. The ending is slightly abrupt, as the director struggles to make her boiling pride in being Iranian have a lasting impact. The ending seems haphazard, and the consistent, penetrative message showcased throughout the movie comes to an end mid-sentence, lacking suitable punctuation, as the director hesitates between a choice of an ellipsis or a period.

Nonetheless, "Persepolis" is a movie worth watching. "Persepolis" has its quirky, humorous moments that bolster the underlying severity of a country ravaged by war. This movie makes you chuckle as you reflect on innocence lost and makes you cry as you recall your first break-up. All in all, "Persepolis" is a profound movie that will imprint its message on your soul.

Pros: A refreshing start to the use of animation in an art film. Very pertinent to our times and interest in the Middle East

Cons: The movie starts to become tedious toward the end.