Persepolis

Persepolis is a black-and-white French animation, set over the last 30 years of Iranian history. Stay where you are though, because it's one of the more engaging films you're likely to see this year. Based on Marjane Satrapi's autobiographical comics, it tells, through flashbacks, the story of a girl coming-of-age in the midst of huge political change in Iran. The complex situation is explained in a way best described as 'historical shadow theatre', with events told simply, refreshingly free of the wild bias that can blight films involving dodgy figures from the past. The animation hits you like some hybrid of Sin City and Tintin, the monochrome broken only by the occasional glimpses of the present-day Marjane. But it never lets its aesthetic get in the way of the story, and there's genuine warmth to the relationships between Marjane and her family. There's also humour a-plenty, and Persepolis is packed with neat 80s pop culture references (including the hilarious sight of Islamic fundamentalists decrying a young Michael Jackson as 'a bad influence'). Funny, engaging and engrossing, Persepolis will have you hooked from the first black-and-white frame. If you can get past the intimidating concept, there's a great film to be found. [Peter Simpson]