Wow. This was an amazing movie. It's based on an autobiographical graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi, who grew up during the Iranian revolution. In addition to being a powerful illustration of how difficult it is to simply live under the control of an oppresive regime, it was also a brilliant commentary about growing up as a woman in general. There were parts where I laughed out loud and parts where I was near tears. It was also just beautifully drawn.
Seriously. You should go find the nearest slightly arsty theater and see this movie.
The thing about Iran's repressiveness towards women that blows my mind is that it wasn't always this way. The fact that a country could decide to change TO a culture where women can't be in public without a male escort and the police enforce extreme religious laws is amazing to me. And really really scary.
I am so lucky to live in a time and place where I just can't understand such fanaticism. We are free and well fed so I can say "what is WRONG with these people?" about the religious fanatics (in Iran, or otherwise) but then when I get tired of thinking about it go pet my cat and chat with my husband. So in order to avoid sinking this post into a depressed rant about the state of the world, I will just reiterate how happy I am to have the life I have been given. And also I will not take lightly take my responsibility to pay attention and vote.
So anyway, this movie is worth seeing.
great posting - we just finished reading "a thousand splendid suns" by the same author as the "Kite Runner" which traced the lives of several women in Afganistan from various backgrounds before, during and after the Russian occupation - also incredibly moving. Tie this in with "Charlie Wilson's War" and you you gain a whole new perspective on what's happening there.
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