Can one call a 95-minute, low-budget, animated film an epic? I think this one qualifies. It may also qualify as a masterpiece. It’s certainly an excellent and an important movie. Iranian/French cartoonist Marjane Satrapi based Persepolis on her own autobiographical graphic novels (Vincent Paronnaud shares screenwriting and directing credits). Through the eyes of young Marjane … Continue reading Persepolis

Political drama Written and directed by Francisco Vargas The Violin opens with a brutal scene of torture and rape conducted by soldiers against their helpless, bound victims. Don’t let the title deceive you; this is not a musical. Although Francisco Vargas’ film of repression and rebellion feels immediate and contemporary, I can’t say exactly when … Continue reading The Violin