If you loved
Persepolis
Marjane Satrapi · Film · 2007
If Persepolis moved you, explore these stories that examine how personal identity is forged within the crucible of restrictive societal upheaval.
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Books on the same thread
Fun Home
Alison Bechdel · Book · 2007
Like the autobiographical honesty of Persepolis, this graphic novel uses a deeply personal lens to navigate the complexities of family secrets and the difficult process of defining your true self.
Answer to History
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (Shah of Iran) · Book · 1980
To understand the political backdrop of Persepolis from the perspective of the regime Marji witnessed, this memoir provides the Shah's own account of the volatile era that triggered her exile.
The Colonel
Mahmoud Dowlatabadi · Book · 2012
This novel echoes the somber political reality found in Persepolis, capturing the harrowing toll of oppression and state violence on the Iranian family unit with unflinching, literary intensity.
My Thousand and One Nights
Raja Alem · Book · 2007
Much like the nostalgic yet critical eye Marji casts on her homeland in Persepolis, this story captures the tension of a changing society as it shifts from tradition to modernity.
Series on the same thread
The Apothecary Diaries
Series · 2023
If you appreciated the way Marji navigated the rigid gender roles of her society in Persepolis, you will value this protagonist’s clever subversion of expectations within a restrictive palace environment.
Candy Candy
Kyoko Mizuki · Series · 1976
The resilient spirit that sustains Marji through her coming-of-age in Persepolis is mirrored in this story, which follows a young girl maintaining her optimism while navigating a challenging, uncertain world.
BLUE EYE SAMURAI
Amber Noizumi · Series · 2023
The quest for identity amidst systemic discrimination shown in Persepolis is central here, as a warrior fights to define her place in a society that refuses to accept her existence.
Anne with an E
Moira Walley-Beckett · Series · 2017
Similar to the young Marji in Persepolis, this protagonist possesses an irrepressible spirit, fighting for her place in the world while navigating the social boundaries set by her restrictive environment.
Podcasts on the same thread
Revolutions
Mike Duncan · Podcast · 2025
This podcast explores the mechanisms of societal collapse and revolution, providing the same analytical fascination with the patterns of history that drive the narrative trajectory of the film Persepolis.
Mad About You
Podcast
While Persepolis examines life under public scrutiny and political pressure, this podcast offers a modern reflection on the personal realities hidden behind the curated image of public social media figures.
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Common questions
Is Persepolis based on a book?
Yes, the 2007 movie Persepolis is an adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name. Both versions follow the life of Marjane Satrapi as she experiences the Iranian Revolution and the subsequent rise of an Islamic fundamentalist regime in 1970s Iran.
Does the movie Persepolis cover the entire story from the book?
The Persepolis movie captures the core narrative of the book, focusing on Marjane Satrapi growing up during the Iranian Revolution. It depicts her perspective on the fall of the Shah and the transition into a repressive tyranny under Islamic fundamentalists as she matures.
What is the historical setting of Persepolis?
Persepolis is set in 1970s Iran. The story begins during the Iranian Revolution of 1979, depicting the defeat of the Shah from the perspective of Marjane Satrapi and her family, before showing the country's transformation into a state governed by Islamic fundamentalists.
How does Persepolis portray the Iranian Revolution?
Persepolis portrays the Iranian Revolution of 1979 through the eyes of a young Marjane Satrapi. It documents her family's initial idealism regarding the defeat of the Shah, followed by her personal experience of the subsequent shift toward a repressive tyranny under new leadership.