Go see the animated (political) movie "Persepolis" if you can.

[Lex]

It's currently in theaters, but not on wide release.

The film is about an Iranian girl, Marjane, growing up at the time of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. It shows, through luscious black and white animation, how Iran dramatically changed when the powerful combination of religious fundamentalism and nationalism oppressed and deprived families such as Marjane's. You see her family's hopes for her to someday be an educated, independent woman dashed as the fundies demand women be hidden by scarves and adhere to religious laws.

Marjane's rebelliousness and tendency to push back against authority as a teen eventually lead her parents to send her to Vienna, but she doesn't quite fit in there either. She can't get out of her mind what her family is going through back home Iran.

I couldn't get out of my mind the nasty influence of rah-rah nationalism combined with religious fundamentalism and what it can do to a civilized country in such a relatively short time.

It's utterly absorbing. Nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, and Jury Prize at 2007 Cannes, along with a host of other film awards. Here's the official site and you can see the trailer there too:
http://www.sonypictures.com/classics/persepolis/

The film is based on the autobiographical novel by Marjane Satrapi. I intend to get a copy of this so I can compare it to what I saw on the screen.

Catherine Deneuve voices Marjane's mother in the film.

Go see it on the big screen if comes to your city or nearby. Highly recommended.

[Hekate]

1. It's wonderful. I read the book awhile back, then felt the movie was a must-see.

I ended up crying most of the way through. Thanks for posting so more people will know about it.

Hekate

[Lex]

3. I feel like if more people knew how good it was

more people might get a chance to see it on the big screen.

It's so powerful and beautiful.

[MADem]

2. K/R--hopefully more people will realize that the people are NOT their shitty government. NT

[Lex]

6. Exactly.

nt

[aikoaiko]

4. thanks for the tip, I loved the books.

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. It was a terrific coming-of-age film and said so much about the politics of the time.

I especially liked that it flat-out said that both Iran and Iraq were given weapons to fight each other. (Which of course opened up the region for exploitation, as planned.)

[Lex]

7. The politics of it all were

so eye-opening and real.

[Reverend_Smitty]

8. I saw it this past Saturday night

My friend basically forced me to see it but she was absolutely right it was a great little movie.
I loved the protagonist, she was awesome

[Richard Steele]

9. K&R