Marjane Satrapi

1978, Tehran. A capital fallen prey to political change and social agitation. Marjane, 8 year-old daughter of a well-off family, witnesses this period through youthful eyes. She is a young dreamer, but far from naive. Over time, the peregrinations of Marjane lead us through the human relationships, political debates and social questions troubling the Iranian Diaspora. The little girl, it is Marjane Satrapi, but it is also Persépolis, a successful comic from the year 2000. Today, after several years of reflection, writing and production, the storyboard is coming to life for a first screening this afternoon at the Lumière Theatre.

Go-getting, independent, critical and energetic, the charmingly beautiful Iranian Marjane Satrapi is presenting the cinematic adaptation of her four autobiographical comic albums. A woman of 38 years of age, she is unusual in terms of her background, her interests, her values and her particular gifts. Yes, an engaged cartoonist, a humanist historian, a convinced pacifist !

Born in Racht, a small town along the coast of the Caspian Sea, Marjane grew up in Tehran. Following the Islamic Revolution, she was sent to Vienna by her parents at the age of 14 to finish her studies. Having a penchant for drawing, she moved to Strasbourg to study at the Arts Déco. She liked to doodle, experiment and create. Following her instinct, she left to work at the ‘Atelier des Vosges’ (Paris), where she met contemporary cartoonists such as Christophe Blain (Isaac le Pirate) and David B. (L’Ascension du Haut mal). These authors would eventually become close friends, sources of inspiration and above all would help her to launch her own career as a storyteller.

Strengthened by the support of her publisher, l’Association, and thanks to her talent, Persépolis saw the light of day in the year 2000. Over the years, three tomes would follow. Four stages in her personal story, recounted with a refined, stylised and concise black and white pencil. Iranian history unravels in front of our eyes, through those of a little girl growing up under different regimes. Upon fleeing the prejudices of the Mollahs, she then finds herself confronted with the prejudices of the Europeans on Iran and Islam. The message, living up to her own character traits, is simple, political, educational and touching. What is unique about Marjane is her memories. An inheritance from her past, this work of remembrance, impressively concise, gives her the base material for her stories.

Frank, demanding, proud, pedagogue, generous, reckless and discreet, Marjane Satrapi is a woman with heart. Here we go Marjane, “the month which will never arrive” is here ! Tomorrow is sure to be easier, worries lifted away or at least replaced with others… And the spectator in me is eagerly awaiting to enter the cinema, the arrival of the darkness in order to hear whispered in my ear : “Come, come, I’m going to tell you a story…”

Fanny Boulloud