Persepolis | Perspective

I look forward to the day that ‘idealist’ isn’t a dirty word to Americans. Contrary to popular belief there are ‘realistic idealists”, which are about half the idealists I know. Cynics consider themselves the only ‘realists’ and that’s well… because they’re cynical. So what triggered that sigh of a comment was a movie about a realistic case of idealism and where it gets us: Persepolis.

Persepolis is an animated French movie written by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud that originates from Satrapi’s graphic novel based on her coming-of-age during the Islamic revolution in Iran. The movie itself does a beautiful job of telling tragic pieces of a very real part of the world through the eyes of Marjane as a child to a young adult (25-ish)?

For those who haven’t seen it, or perhaps are not well versed in Iran’s history, Persepolis was the former capital to the Persian Empire supposedly condemned and conquered by Alexander the Great. In the 1980′s, Iran had major political conflicts which led to the Islamic Revolution. Even when explained to Marjane by her father, in the film, one gets the feeling that it is a very abbreviated and purposely sided explanation of how the “Shah” (the monarchy) came to power, and how that power was corrupt as it was fueled by the Western world’s interest for oil. The narrators explained that this relationship did in fact modernize Iran, but they neglected the people. So while during this time Marjane had a normal life, not too much different than one would think the US in the 80′s, slowly more and more political enemies (Communists, revolutionaries) are killed. Even once they do get a constitution and election, the people vote for a theocracy, which leads to the propaganda-filled… scarf-wearing…anti-Western/music/fashion/sex Iran that we think of.
These people were given a choice, the kind of choice we Americans get every 4 years, and they voted for a religion and culture based leader out of fear, and the fact it was truly the only thing that united the country. Unfortunately the people that fought to bring down the Shah were people hoping to restore full democratic power to the people… and they didn’t want it.

Marjane, in this whole movie, is mouthy and passionate, to the extent where she is sent abroad because girls like her end up executed, like her uncle and like many of their family friends. They live in constant fear of being arrested for the slightest offense, bombs from a neighboring country, and ashamed of their heritage because what it became to symbolize to the rest of the world (especially when Marjane lives in Vienna). It’s absolutely heart wrenching to see passionate men and women that chose liberty in death over oppression in life; because it’s a cartoon it seems like it might be exaggerated, but its not, and this is how dramatic and intense their life (still today) was. It’s a very honest evolution of Marjane’s perspective and ideals.

Because I knew how truth it was emitting as Marjane learned about what was happening and how to deal with it, I cried and cried. Actually I’m embarrassed to see powerful films at the theater because I don’t like sobbing. People might say ‘the idealists lost! Marjane had to leave Iran in the end!”. Really, I’d say that’s all a matter of perspective; and that’s the great thing about being someone that choses to have hope opposed to those who rather deny it.

As I am working on supporting Barack Obama for the presidency, all these excuses and questions come out of people: “I’m not sure a black man is ready to be president”, “I’ve been let down by politicians in the past” “Hillary is the safe vote, she has experience” and so many other notions that only convey one thing about these people: they are afraid to embrace change. Mr. Obama’s “Audacity of Hope”.

To those Americans voting for their tax cuts, those voting for a minority instead of for a person, those voting on party lines, and those not voting at all, I have to say, how dare you? How dare you take for granted what kind of power you can have in your community? How dare you vote uninformed?
There are countries that have citizens that wait 7 hours to vote (Venezuela apparently), others, don’t even vote at all, but would do anything for it (Iranian revolutionaries), and citizens that violently riot to protect it (france). If thees concepts seem foreign, it is no surprise as this has become the modern America.

The movie was powerful yet not trite or melodramatic, and reminded me that to some it really is freedom to be able to have whatever hair style I like, support whoever I want, and for sure to say whatever I want.
I feel really guilty for not taking advantage of some of my simple liberties sooner, and heartbroken by those who acknowledge none of them. I pray to God that American people get wise to the fact that idealists are the ones that end up truly happy in this world.
Cynics, at best, end up proud.