“In the midst of turmoil, a young spirit seeks freedom; where regimes bind, self-discovery liberates.”
Watch the original version of Persepolis
Prologue
On a dusty street in Tehran, young Marjane ‘Marji’ Satrapi stood with wide, innocent eyes, watching the crowds swirl around her. The year was 1979, and the air was electrified with the scent of revolt. The Shah was no more, and a new era dawned over Iran. Marji’s idealistic family viewed this as a long-awaited dream fulfilled, a victory against an oppressive regime. But what started as a beacon of hope would soon turn into a nightmare of repression.
Chapter 1: The Revolution’s Child
The tale begins in a modest house caught in the midst of the revolution’s chaos, where Marji, with an unquenchable curiosity to understand the world, attentively listened to her parents’ discussions. At school, she was taught to praise the Shah, while at home, she was nurtured with stories of his tyranny. Marji was caught in a web of perplexing ideologies that she was too young to comprehend fully. Yet, through her childish lenses, she started to understand her parents’ idealistic dreams for a better Iran.
The day the Shah was overthrown was a turning point in Marji’s life. The streets exploded with jubilation, and her parents’ fervent cries of triumph echoed around her. She didn’t understand the magnitude of the event, but the joy she shared with her parents was infectious. The revolution had a profound impact on Marji, cultivating a spirit of rebellion in her. She began to question authority, a trait that would shape her journey through life.
As the child of the revolution, Marji started to grasp the essence of freedom and cultivated a love for her country. The concept of nationalism bloomed in her young mind. She began to dream of a bright future, where everyone was free, a future her parents promised her after the Shah’s defeat. Marji was a bird learning to spread her wings, ready to fly into a future she could hardly wait to explore.
However, as the revolution progressed, the idealistic world Marji had dreamt of began to blur. Through her naive eyes, she watched as celebrations turned into protests, democracy morphed into fanaticism, and freedom into rigid conformity. The bitter taste of disillusionment stuck with her, but the change was only beginning. With the arrival of Islamic fundamentalists, Marji’s life was on the brink of yet another drastic transformation.
The new regime implemented swift changes in every aspect of life to reflect their ideologies. The biggest shock for Marji was the imposition of the veil. Stripped away from her freedom to choose, she felt an alien in her own country. The sudden transformation of her surroundings confused her, forcing Marji to question her place in the new Iran.
An idealist at heart and a rebel by nature, Marji started to question the norms, sparking the beginning of a lifelong journey to discover her individuality amidst the political turmoil. Her spirit exemplified resilience, standing strong in the face of adversity. A journey that started in the packed streets of Tehran in the heart of a revolution had now turned into a path of self-discovery, rebellion, and an endless search for freedom.
As Marji grew older, the world she had once celebrated began to crumble around her. As she reluctantly embraced the new Iran, she stood on the precipice of a drastic transformation that would forever change the course of her life. Little did she know that her childhood bathed in idealistic dreams had prepared her for a future full of rebellion, strength, and resilience. Little did she know that she was going to be the child of the revolution, an unyielding symbol of hope amidst the desolation.
Chapter 2: From Shah to Shi’a
Marji awoke to a new day—the first day of her altered reality in post-revolutionary Iran. The country was no longer under the monarchy of the Shah but had come under the stern gaze of Islamic fundamentalists. The conversations in her household had shifted from hopeful murmurs of change to nervous whispers about the future.
At breakfast, Marji’s father, Ebi, was buried in the newspaper, his forehead creased with worries. Her mother, Taji, rattled off the day’s rules with a tremor in her voice, reminders of the new order that now dominated their lives. Marji, all of ten years, attempted to gulp down her breakfast, the lump in her throat growing with each passing second.
Going to school that day was an exercise in absolute perplexity. Marji, once admired in her western-style uniform, now wore a mandatory hijab, her free-flowing hair concealed beneath the cloth’s confines—another symbol of the new regime’s hard-line policies. Her friends, too, were all in matching uniforms, their individuality lost in the sea of black veils.
As the day wore on, Marji sat through the lessons, the teachers’ voices sounding distant, their words echoing in the hollow chambers of her mind. She felt like a prisoner in her own country, hemmed in by the walls that were growing around her with the passing of each day.
In her art class, a subject Marji particularly loved, she was longing for her former freedom. Where once she freely sketched portraits and landscapes, she was now commanded to draw figures shrouded in hijabs. The vibrant colors from her palette were gradually replaced by a monochromatic scale of blacks and grays, the shift symbolizing her own life’s dramatic turns.
Back home, the atmosphere was fraught with further tension. Ebi and Taji were in hushed conversation, their words barely reaching Marji’s ears, their eyes filled with uncertainty. They were discussing the changing times, their voices interjected with names of new political leaders, new laws, and the dreaded implementation of the moral police.
Even amidst the sea of this upheaval, there was a brief episode of mirth. Marji’s grandmother visited their house, her chador wrapped tightly around her, the defiant flash in her eyes belying her age. She told stories of the old Iran, of the days before the Shah, and how they had weathered those beleaguered times. Her tales, filled with courage and resilience, were a beacon of hope for Marji, a reminder that even the darkest of times had to pass.
But the real challenge was yet to come, as Marji was about to experience the sting of the new regime’s policing firsthand. Walking back from the market one day, she was stopped by the moral policewoman for her hijab being slightly out of place. The fright in her eyes mirrored the young girl’s own terror, a testament to the power and fear the new regime had instilled in its people.
From Shah to Shi’a, Marji’s transformation was both abrupt and severe. Her childhood was abruptly interrupted, replaced by the grim realities of a nation under an oppressive regime. Yet, amidst all the uncertainty, young Marji held a glimmer of hope. In her heart, the promise of a better tomorrow lived on, fueling her dreams and aspirations.
Marji’s journey of adaptation to the new order was a testament to her resilience and her will. Her world was changing, yes, but Marji was still the same – still hopeful, still dreamy – and ready to face whatever the future had in store for her, armed with her unyielding spirit and an unwavering belief in a brighter tomorrow.
Chapter 3: The Tyranny Unveiled
In the heart of the bustling city of Tehran, young Marjane ‘Marji’ Statrapi found herself caught in a world of contradictions. The once familiar faces of her neighbors were now obscured by veils of black. Women clad in chadors teetered along the narrow sidewalks, emblematic of the sweeping changes that had enveloped the city.
Marji’s initial excitement at the Shah’s downfall started to fade, replaced by creeping uncertainty. She’d rejoiced along with her family when the fundamentals had taken power, believing it to be the dawn of a brighter era. But as the days turned into weeks, the victory seemed increasingly hollow. The fundamentalists promised freedom but delivered shackles. They preached justice but practiced intolerance.
The oppression was no longer whispered in hushed tones, but echoed in the streets. It lurked in the abrupt halt of laughter when a morality police patrol passed by and in the shuttered windows of once thriving bookstores.
Marji, too young to fully comprehend the complexities of her nation’s political turmoil, experienced this shift from the fringes. Her school became a battlefield, the playground debates shifting from favorite cartoon characters to heated political arguments. She came home one day, her white uniform now compulsory and monotonous against the lively colors of her childhood, and recounted to her mother, “They’re teaching us that women are to be hidden, that we are secondary.”
Her mother, fierce yet afraid, held Marji close that day, whispering words of comfort. But Marji could see the worry lines etched on her mother’s face, a mirror reflecting the anxiety that gnawed at their lives.
As days rolled into nights and weeks into months, Marji’s house began to echo with hushed whispers and fearful silences. She watched as her outspoken Uncle Anoosh, once the life of their dinner table, slowly retreated into a shell. His stories of resistance and valour were now replaced by helpless sighs and cautionary tales. His transformation was a living testament to the repressive atmosphere that had fallen upon them.
Yet, in the midst of all the chaos, Marji found solace in her imagination. She escaped the confines of her society through the pages of her comic books and her dreams of becoming Iran’s first female superhero. It was her way of rebelling against the constraints that were being imposed upon her.
When the edict came banning all western music, deeming it a corrupting influence, Marji hid her secret stash of Iron Maiden tapes under her bed. She would press her ear to the tiny speaker late into the night, each song a whispered anthem of rebellion.
But the innocence of her resistance was shattered one fateful day when the father of one of her schoolmates was executed. The news shook Marji to her core. The repressive regime was no longer a distant terror. It had infiltrated her life, snatching away a loved one.
That night, she lay awake, the haunting image of her friend’s teary-eyed face imprinted on her mind. She realized then that her Iran, the country she loved, was changing into a place she barely recognised. The tyranny of the fundamentalist regime was not an abstract notion anymore; it was at her doorstep.
Marji’s journey from the blissful infancy of revolution to the chilling reality of tyranny was a painful awakening. It revealed to her the bitter truth about the world she was living in. But this was just the beginning. As the young girl came of age under the shadow of a repressive regime, her rebellious spirit refused to be stifled. She had taken her first steps on a path leading to a future where she would challenge the oppression and discover her place in a rapidly changing world.
Chapter 4: Forbidden Fruit
In the tight-knit community of Tehran, behind the confining walls of her house, Marji was stepping into the shoes of rebellion. She was probing into territories that were forbidden by her fundamentalist rulers. The rules of their religion were the law, and Marji was on the precipice of breaking them.
Marji, a twelve-year-old, was embracing a clandestine existence. There was a strange thrill in the secrecy – a sense of liberation she had forgotten existed. The first taste of her rebellion came in the form of western music. It was banned, considered to be the cause of moral depravity among the youth. But for Marji, it was a proclamation of her individuality, her first form of resistance.
As she inserted the black vinyl of ‘Iron Maiden’ into the turntable she had secretly bought from the local black market, she felt an indescribable rush. The clandestine melody filled her room, and she soaked in each note like a soothing balm to her restless spirit. It was a hushed connection to a world outside her oppressive reality.
Some days, she would disguise herself under a street vendor’s burqa and slip into the black market to trade for comic books and western novels. The thrill of the forbidden was an addictive high, a stark contrast to the dull monotony of her daily life.
Her rebellion took a daring leap when she, along with a few rebellious comrades, started attending secret parties. The parties were reminiscent of simpler times – times when laughter wasn’t muffled, and music wasn’t a crime. Under dimmed lights and hushed whispers, they danced their frustrations away. The parties were dangerous, a direct challenge to the ever-watchful eyes of the morality police. But danger was a small price to pay for stolen moments of freedom.
Meanwhile, her parents were oblivious to Marji’s adventures. They saw their daughter growing up, but they were unaware of the fiery spirit of rebellion growing stronger within her. Marji had always been their little girl, their precious gem. They did not realize that their gem was slowly, but surely, unearthing herself from the confinements they had unintentionally created.
Marji’s clandestine life had its share of close encounters. There were times when the morality police were just a heartbeat away from discovering their secret parties or stumbles upon her forbidden possessions. But somehow, they always managed to evade the repressive clutches of the police.
Among the secret parties and black market dealings, Marji was igniting a flame of rebellion in the hearts of her peers. The flame was invisible to the outside world, hidden behind a cloak of composure. But it danced wildly in the darkness, casting bewitching shadows on their young, defiant faces.
Marji knew she was playing with fire, but she also knew that she had no other choice. The flame of rebellion flickered in her heart, fueling her actions. She was young, but she was not naive. She was aware that any misstep could lead to disastrous consequences. But that did not deter her. If anything, it made her more determined.
In her heart, Marji knew that she was not alone in her struggle. All around her, the youth were awakening, questioning their rulers, expressing their discontent in hushed voices. Her rebellion was a small part of an undercurrent that was pulsing through the veins of her society. It was a silent revolution, gathering momentum in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to burst forth.
For Marji, this chapter of her life was like a forbidden fruit – intoxicatingly enticing and dangerously thrilling. But she was willing to brave the dangers for a bite of freedom, a taste of rebellion. She was but a young girl discovering her spirit in the ominous echo of an oppressive regime.
Freedom had never tasted sweeter. The bitter aftertaste of the perils that awaited was drowned in the melody of Iron Maiden and the thrill of midnight dancing. For now, Marji was content in her clandestine rebellion, in her secret sanctuary amid the chaos. But deep down, she knew that this was just the beginning, the opening act of a long, tumultuous drama awaiting her on the world’s stage. But for now, she relished her forbidden fruit, blissfully unaware of the seeds of peril it sowed.
Chapter 5: Unseen Consequences
Marji was a teenager now, a teenager dwelling in the capricious heart of an Islamic republic, although her defiant spirit refused to bow before dogmas and diktats. The Iran she knew was changing, its metamorphosis accelerating, and amidst this, Marji, like an audacious moth, fluttered her wings towards forbidden territories: rock ‘n’ roll music, clandestine parties, and the glamour of western clothing.
The churning rebellion inside her adolescent heart had found an outlet. It was like tasting the forbidden fruit plucked from a tree in paradise, with every beat of illicit music, every swig of forbidden alcohol, Marji savored the thrill of her defiance.
It was one such night, the moon had donned her silvery veil, and Marji was clad in her mother’s vintage dress, a forbidden artifact from a time when the chador was not a compulsory wardrobe item. Tonight, she was off to a party, a secret gathering of Tehran’s brave hearts.
As the party was in full swing, the music faded into oblivion as the shadows of morality police loomed outside. Panic filled the air, the malevolent knock echoed, and terror struck the hearts of the rebellious teens. They had been found. Time froze as they held their breaths, and doors were being forced open.
Caught in the midst of their defiance, Marji and her friends found themselves dragged into the whirlwind of the lawful punishment. The frivolities of the night were harshly replaced with the frightful reality of their transgressions. Marji was shaken to her core, her audacious spirit temporarily dampened with fear and regret.
Interrogations followed. Sharp, judgmental eyes pierced through Marji, their gaze seemingly intent on stripping her off the remnants of her audacity. The officers hurled accusations and threats, their voices reverberating in the cold, sterile room.
Then came the harsh judgment: lashes for the boys, a stern warning, and a grim reminder of ‘moral duties’ towards the girls. The forbidden fruit had indeed left a bitter taste, Marji realized, as tears welled up in her eyes.
The magnitude of her actions and their consequences hit her hard. Her thrilling rebellion, her daring defiance was not perceived as a quest for freedom but a crime against a repressive regime. The party, the music, the laughter, all were overshadowed by the stark darkness of the punitive measures.
The experience was a brutal awakening for Marji. She was forced to confront the hideous face of her country’s new reality. The revolution her family had cheered for had handed over the reins of the nation to a regime far more tyrannical than the Shah’s rule.
The mirage of the dream of freedom had dissolved, leaving behind a harsh landscape of repression. Marji learned a hard lesson that night. The system she was part of was not the safety blanket she thought it was. It was a boa constrictor, squeezing the life out of her aspirations and dreams.
Understanding the gravity of her rebellion, Marji decided to tread more carefully, to shield her audacity behind her chador, to remain silent yet awake. For she now knew, the fight for freedom was not a party, it was not a thrilling defiance, it was a battle, a long drawn, gritty battle against powers far stronger than her.
But even as the harsh realities dawned upon her, Marji’s spirit remained unbroken. The regime might have subdued her actions, but not her thoughts, her dreams, or her determination. The fire of rebellion still burned bright within her, ready to challenge the regime within the confines of her mind.
As the chapter closes, one sees Marji, no longer a naive child, but a young woman acutely aware of the volatile world she belongs to, ready to tie her laces tighter for the challenging journey ahead.
Chapter 6: Exile’s Promise
The dawn was reluctant to break that fateful day, as though aware of the profound shift about to ripple through Marji’s life. Her parents had made the excruciating decision, steeped in a mixture of despair and hope, to send their daughter away to the safety of Europe. The turmoil that had gripped Iran in the iron fist of fundamentalist regime had escalated to unbearable degrees, eroding the walls of the safe haven that was once Marji’s home.
As her mother packed her suitcase, each fold of clothing felt like a twist of reality unfolding, pushing Marji further away from her roots. Her father was unusually quiet, his silence echoing louder than any words could. The farewell was left unspoken, hanging in the air like the thin veil of smoke from her father’s cigarette.
The journey to the airport was somber, filled with long silences and unshed tears. Marji could barely recognize her city anymore. Every corner echoed with the memories of childhood freedom, now replaced with an oppressive air of fears and enforced piety. The graffiti-laden walls, the veiled women, the stern faces of soldiers patrolling the streets – they were all stark reminders of the revolution’s aftermath.
As her parents hugged her tight at the departure gate, the gravity of their decision hung heavy in the air. Marji stood on the precipice of the unknown, holding on to the last threads of familiarity. Her mother’s tears were warm on her cheeks, while her father’s strong grip was a silent promise of their enduring love and the promise of reunion.
The plane took off, and as Marji looked down at her homeland getting smaller and smaller, she felt a surge of emotions. There was an underlying sense of guilt – could she have done something to prevent her exile? There was a crushing sadness – was this the last time she would see her beloved Iran? And there was a spark of hope – could she find a fresh start in Europe?
Once in Europe, life was a kaleidoscope of new experiences. She was thrust into a swirling world of different languages, unfamiliar faces, and starkly contrasting norms. Europe was the oasis of freedom that Iran no longer offered, an alien land where she was free to explore her true identity.
However, this newfound freedom was coupled with an unsettling sense of displacement. The foreign land was kind but distant, its unfamiliarity sometimes overwhelming. Marji was battling a war on two fronts – battling homesickness while trying to assimilate into her new surroundings.
The rumors and news from Iran never ceased to find her, each one like a stab reminding her of her land’s deteriorating condition. Being away from home, she felt the profound impact of the suffering Iran was going through more acutely than ever. She realized she carried Iran within her, its memories etched into her soul, its pain reflected in her eyes.
Her journey was punctuated with bursts of joy from making new friends, healing waves of laughter, and the thrill of new discoveries. Yet the sadness was always there, creeping in during the quiet moments, reminding her of the home she had left behind.
She was a part of two worlds, yet felt like she belonged to neither. Europe offered her liberty and Iran was the land of her heart. She was caught in a relentless tug-of-war between these two different realities, struggling to reconcile her dual existence.
Yet through this struggle, Marji was evolving. She realized that she was more than a pawn in the politics of nations. She was Marjane Statrapi, a woman with the spirit of Iran in her heart and the wisdom of her experiences as her guide. Both countries, both cultures, both experiences were now a part of her identity. Her exile had become her path to self-discovery.
Exile’s Promise had transformed Marji, from a captive of political unrest to a survivor, a bridge between two cultures, a beacon of hope. The pain of separation had become a catalyst for her growth, broadening her horizons and deepening her understanding of the world.
But most importantly, living abroad had awakened in her an indomitable spirit, a resilience that marked her journey from a carefree girl to a woman acutely aware of the world’s brutality. It shaped her into a gritty woman who, even amidst the chaos, found her strength and resilience – a symbol of the undying hope of Iran, for a future of liberation and freedom.
Chapter 7: An Alien Land
Marji stood on the precipice of a new world, Europe, a land so different from her homeland Iran that it felt like another planet. The buildings towered high, and the air was thick with a blend of multiple cultures, each telling a different story. She was a stranger in a strange land, an exile from a country she once called home.
Her days were filled with trying to understand the language, an effort which often left her tongue-tied and her mind twisted in knots. She spent her nights dreaming of Iran, of her family, of her friends; the dreams coated in hues of idealism and sorrow. While the physical distance was vast, the emotional and cultural chasm felt even broader.
Everyday life was a constant adjustment. Marji grappled with the contrasting values and norms, the freedom that once seemed so appealing but now felt overwhelming. It was a strange paradox; she had hoped for liberation from the oppressive regime of her homeland, but now, freedom felt like an alien concept.
Marji faced a new challenge: school life. As she enrolled in a European school, she found herself surrounded by children who knew nothing of the struggles she’d seen or the nightmares that haunted her nights. They were children of peace, ignorant of the impacts of political upheaval, their most significant grievances in life vastly different from hers.
Being the only Iranian girl in her school, Marji became the subject of curiosity, a symbol of a far-off conflict happening in some distant land. She was seen as a novelty due to her unique background. Her classmates’ questions ranged from naive to downright ignorant, and Marji found herself explaining her culture and trying to dispel misconceptions about Iran.
Simultaneously, she started to become aware of the cultural divide she was living in. She was neither Western nor completely Iranian anymore. This intersection of cultures left her grappling with her identity, caught between her Iranian roots and the Western influences that were slowly seeping into her life.
As political unrest escalated back home, Marji felt a tug of helplessness. The Iran she knew was evolving, almost unrecognizable. Letters from her family painted a grim picture, and news broadcasts were filled with haunting images of violence and repression.
She yearned to be a part of the solution, to fight for the Iran she dreamt of. But distance and her still-fragile existence in Europe made it almost impossible. Marji began to understand the harsh reality of exile, the constant wrestling between the pull of her homeland and the push of her present life.
As the chapter closed, Marji found herself at the crossroads of her journey. The question of where she truly belonged loomed larger than ever. Would she ever be able to reconcile her dual existence? Would she find the balance between her cultural heritage and her new life?
She was a nomad of sorts, with her heart in the East and her life in the West. She was the embodiment of a generation torn apart by political conflict, struggling to make sense of their place in a world on fire.
Marji was an alien in a foreign land, the echoes of Iran never too far from her mind. Her story was the tale of millions, torn from the roots, forced into a landscape of unfamiliarity. It was the tale of the hope for freedom, the strive for identity, and the undying spirit of perseverance against all odds.
A chapter marked by self-discovery, identity crisis, and emotional conflict, it was the prelude to a climax that would determine Marji’s sense of self, her belonging, and her future as an Iranian girl growing up in two vastly different cultural settings.
And though her journey was far from over, it was clear that she was not the same wide-eyed girl who had watched the Shah’s downfall and dreamt of a brighter future. She was a young Iranian woman, battle-scarred and wise beyond her years, walking the tightrope between two worlds. It was her story and the story of every exile who seeks the promise of a new world while yearning for the familiarity of the old.
Chapter 8: The Return
Marjane ‘Marji’ Stratapi’s return to her homeland was infused with a cacophony of emotions. As the aircraft began its descent, the fray of emotions bubbled up. She was returning home, yet, it felt as if she was stepping into a hostile foreign land, the imprints of her memories fading with time.
The skyline of Tehran, once familiar, now looked distorted behind her teary eyes. From high above, she could trace the long winding roads leading to her once beloved home. Home, what an alien concept it had become for Marji.
Upon landing, the reality of her homeland gnawed at her. The airport, swarming with veiled women and stern-looking men, felt disorienting. The sharp dichotomy between her life in Europe and this repressive reality was jarring. She felt like a bird plucked from the open sky and caged; her wings clipped, her flight interrupted.
Reunions were bittersweet. Her parents, aged and tired, tried to cloak their worries in false cheerfulness and hearty meals. The house, once filled with laughter and lively debates, echoed with silence — an oppressive silence that was punctuated only by whispers of ‘revolution’ and ‘tyranny.’
Life in Iran was a constant reminder of the freedom she had lost. Her beloved comic books were replaced with state-sanctioned texts. Western music, once her refuge, was replaced with the resounding calls for prayers from the mosques. The change was not just skin deep; it was a radical shift that had consumed her very being.
Every day, she would put on the mandatory Hijab, erase any traces of her rebellious spirit, and set out for school. The drab, oppressive school building, a stark contrast to the inspiring institutions she had attended in Europe. The teachers, vigilant custodians of the regime, kept a strict watch on every move.
Marji began to feel like a stranger in her own skin, an alien in her own homeland. The vibrant young woman in jeans and flowing hair was forcibly replaced with a subdued, submissive girl in a hijab. The scale of change was intimidating, a relentless wave crashing over her, attempting to wash away any shred of the person she used to be.
And then, there were the morality police. They patrolled the streets, eyes narrowed, scouring every nook and cranny for a wisp of rebellion. Their very presence was a constant reminder of how much power they held over her life, like puppeteers pulling at her strings.
Each day was a battle, a quest for survival in a sea of tyranny. Yet, Marji refused to let the regime shackle her spirit. Braving the storm, she clung to the fragments of her past — the remnants of the woman she was before the revolution.
In her dreams, she danced to her favorite western tunes. She recollected the faces of her friends in Europe, their shared laughter echoing in her mind. She sketched, her heart pouring onto the paper, a silent protest against the stifling norms.
She began to find solace in fellow rebels — young men and women, kindred souls, also struggling against the regime. They convened in secret, sharing stories, dreams, and the whispers of rebellion.
As she navigated through her tumultuous life in Iran, the crushing weight of the reality began to lessen. She began to understand that the oppressive regime could control her actions, but they couldn’t steal away her thoughts, her hopes, her dreams.
Marji’s return to Iran wasn’t just a journey back to her home; it was a pilgrimage back to herself. Amidst the repression and tyranny, she found her resilience – a strength she didn’t know she possessed.
The chapter of her life in Iran was marked with sorrow, struggle, and despair. Yet, Marji refused to let the narrative end on a bitter note. Instead, she chose to redefine her story, one brushstroke at a time.
As the chapter closed, Marji was no longer a terrified young girl lost in the maze of tyranny. She was a woman, a rebel, a survivor who didn’t let the shadows of a repressive regime dim her spirits.
Her story continues to inspire, to foment rebellion, to encourage resilience. It serves as a beacon for the oppressed, a testament to the indomitable spirit of humanity. For every tyrant that rises, there’s a Marji ready to defy. For Marjane ‘Marji’ Stratapi, the return to Iran was not the end; it was just another chapter in her ceaseless fight for freedom.
Chapter 9: Finding Freedom
Marji stepped onto Iranian soil once again – her footsteps echoing with the weight of the years spent abroad. The land beneath her feet felt prickly, almost foreign, contrasting harshly with the nostalgia that filled her. The air smelled of dried figs and kerosene stoves. Tehran. An intricately woven tapestry of history, culture, and strife. Her homeland.
The reality of the regime was a stark contrast to the vibrant memories she held of Iran before the revolution. Billboards screamed propaganda, women were shrouded in black chadors, and the streets echoed with the mutterings of disillusionment. It choked the air; it painted a striking, chilling scene of her country’s undying battle for freedom.
She returned home, caught in the whirlwind of dual existence. Marji was not the same wide-eyed, idealistic girl who had once left Iran. Her experiences, her encounters with diverse cultures, her struggle with adolescence had broadened her horizons, yet deepened the divide between her and her homeland.
She found herself grappling with the delicate threads of her Iranian identity. The woman in her mirror wore a defiant expression – a woman of the world – but the chador around her head seemed like an alien accessory. The old Marji within her yearned for the freedom she used to know. The woman she had become, on the other hand, was a complicated blend of contradictions, just like the country she belonged to.
Nights were spent in clandestine gatherings, blurred with laughter, old Iranian folk music, and whispers of rebellion. Days were a dreary procession of conformity. These gatherings were an act of rebellion, they were a reflection of an Iran that was not defined by its oppressive regime. The people she loved, her friends, her family, they had all borne the brunt of the new regime’s tyranny, and yet their resilience astounded her.
Marji found herself drawn to the stories around her–particularly those of the women in her life. There was her mother, stoic and resilient, her spirit unbroken despite the years of oppression. Her grandmother, wise and loving, who despite her years, held the torch of their cultural heritage high and unabashed. These women were symbols of the Iran Marji cherished – and she found herself re-connecting to her roots through their narratives.
The chadors, at first, seemed only a symbol of the draconian rule under the Ayatollahs. Gradually though, as Marji began to unravel the layers of complexity of the Iranian society, they transformed from an imposition to a symbol of resistance. Underneath the black fabric lay hidden a rebellion, subtle yet powerful. It was a rebellion that taught Marji that freedom was not just about the clothes one wore, or the music one listened to. It was about the spirit, it was about the courage to hold onto one’s identity amidst oppressive forces.
Navigating this complex maze of cultural dissonance, Marji realized that she couldn’t find her freedom in a political regime, or a foreign land. It was within her. She felt it beating in her chest with each heartbeat, felt it flow in her veins. Marji was free – free to be herself, free to live her truth, free to fight for what she believed in. She finally understood that true freedom was more than an absence of shackles; it was the power to be oneself, genuinely and unapologetically.
The Marji who returned to Iran was a woman forged in the fire of adversity. Her spirit, unbroken by political unrest and repressive regimes, found hope in the resilience and undying spirit of her people. Their tales of quiet defiance, their steps taken in silence against the oppressing winds, their resilience in the face of overwhelming odds, all pointed towards the undying hope for liberation.
Marji’s story, thus, becomes a testament to the never-ending quest for freedom, not just for herself, but for her nation as well. She stands as a symbol of the undying spirit of Iran – a beacon of hope for the eventual dawn of liberation. She is the personification of her homeland, mirroring its trials and tribulations, its resilience, its beauty hidden under the strains of oppression. Her journey unfolds as an extraordinary narrative of defiance, resilience, and most of all, an undying hope for freedom. Through Marji’s eyes, we witness the transformation of a young, idealistic girl into a woman whose spirit is untamed, who is free, not because of her circumstances, but in spite of them.
Some scenes from the movie Persepolis written by A.I.
Scene 1
FADE IN:
EXT. TEHRAN – DAY
A bustling city under the delicate veil of revolution, people chanting in the distance.
INT. MARJI’S HOME – LIVING ROOM – DAY
MARJI (8, thoughtful, full of questions) is drawing in her sketchbook, while her parents, EBRAHIM and FARAH, converse in hushed urgency, listening to the radio.
RADIO ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
“…The Shah has left the country, marking a victory for the Iranian Revolution…”
Ebrahim and Farah exchange an ecstatic look. Marji, looking up from her drawing, notices their reactions.
MARJI
What does it mean, Papa?
EBRAHIM
It means, Marji, that things are going to change. For the better. We hope…
Marji continues to draw, excitement sparkling in her young eyes.
EXT. TEHRAN – BAZAAR – DAY
Marji, hand in hand with her mother, walks through the vibrant marketplace. She sees a group of women covering their heads with scarves. She mirrors them, wrapping her scarf more tightly.
MARJI
Mama, do I have to wear it all the time?
FARAH
Yes, Marji, it’s the new rule.
Marji nods, accepting the new reality with a sense of optimism.
FADE OUT.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Scene 2
FADE IN:
INT. MARJI’S BEDROOM – DAY
A copy of the Quran sits beside a Beatles record. Marji, a young, wide-eyed girl of ten, looks into the mirror, adjusting her new hijab.
EDUCATIONAL RADIO (V.O.)
(tinny, through the radio)
The hijab, a symbol of modesty, a protection against the male gaze…
Marji’s mother, TAHEREH, enters, her own hijab expertly pinned.
TAHEREH
(anxious)
Marji, are you ready?
Marji nods, following her mother out the door.
EXT. SCHOOL YARD – DAY
Row upon row of girls, all in matching black hijabs. Marji stands out, clearly uncomfortable.
INT. CLASSROOM – DAY
A TEACHER drones on about the greatness of the Supreme Leader. Marji gazes out the window, daydreaming.
EXT. TEHRAN STREET – DUSK
Marji walks home, subtly adjusting her hijab again. A MORALITY POLICE OFFICER glares at her but says nothing. Marji breathes a sigh of relief as he passes by.
INT. MARJI’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Marji takes off her hijab, letting her hair tumble down. She puts on the Beatles record, lying back and closing her eyes, drowning out the sounds of a city in turmoil.
FADE OUT.
Scene 3
INT. MARJI’S FAMILY HOME – NIGHT
Marji, a bright-eyed young woman, sits on a rich Persian carpet, eavesdropping on a heated debate between her parents. They discuss the changes brought by the Islamic fundamentalists. Her father’s tone is tense.
FATHER
(whispering)
The tyranny is only just beginning. Our freedom…it’s fading away.
Mother looks worried as she cradles a picture of her younger self – vibrant and rebellious.
MOTHER
(sadly)
They promised a revolution of the heart, of the people. They promised liberation!
Marji, hidden behind a curtain, absorbs the gravity of their words.
EXT. TEHRAN STREETS – MORNING
Marji, dressed in a mandated uniform, walks to school. Her once lively neighborhood now seems subdued and grey. She sees a couple of men, MORALITY POLICE, scolding a woman for her improper hijab. The woman looks terrified, while the men absurdly triumphant. Marji watches, her innocence receding with each passing moment.
INT. MARJI’S SCHOOL – DAY
Marji sits in class, learning about the new religious mandates. Her favorite teacher attempts to teach, her eyes devoid of the familiar spark. Marji glances at her friend, Mina, and sees her mirroring the same fear.
Marji
(whispering to Mina)
This isn’t the freedom we dreamt of.
Mina manages a small nod, a shared understanding passing between them. Their childhood dream, it seems, has turned into a nightmare.
FADE OUT.
Scene 4
INT. MARJI’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Marji, a restless 16-year-old girl, sits on her bed, looking at her contraband stash – Western music cassettes. She hesitates, then grabs a tape labeled “IRON MAIDEN.”
She puts the cassette into the player, adjusts her headphones, and presses play. The heavy guitar riff fills her ears, and her eyes light up with delight.
Suddenly, a KNOCK on the door. Marji quickly pulls off her headphones, hides the music player below her bed, and opens the door to find her MOTHER, worried.
MOTHER
(whispering)
You must keep the volume down, Marji.
MARJI
(smirks)
Do you want to listen too, Mama?
Her watchful Mother’s severe look turns into a loving smile.
MOTHER
Just be careful, my rebel girl.
Marji closes the door. She takes a deep breath and presses play again.
CUT TO:
EXT. TEHRAN ROOFTOP – NIGHT
Marji, with her friends, is on a rooftop transformed into a secret meeting place. They’re all dressed in western clothes, laughing, sharing stories, and dancing to the rhythm of the forbidden music leaking from Marji’s headphones.
Suddenly, SPOTLIGHTS pierce the night. The laughter stops. Marji looks down to see the MORALITY POLICE.
MARJI
(whispering)
Run!
The scene ends in chaos as the friends scramble to escape.
FADE OUT.
Scene 5
FADE IN:
INT. MARJI’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Marji, a teenager with fiery eyes, is seen passionately dancing to the forbidden beats of Western music, her room festooned with hidden CDs and prohibited books.
Suddenly, the MUSIC STOPS, interrupted by a LOUD KNOCKING on her door. She hides the CD under her bed and cracks the door open.
MARJI
Yes, mother?
Her mother, TAHEREH, a middle-aged woman bearing the weight of the world in her eyes, looks at her worried.
TAHEREH
Marji, you must keep the volume down. It’s dangerous.
MARJI
(rolls her eyes)
It’s just music, mother!
Suddenly they hear loud, menacing KNOCKING at the front door. They exchange alarmed looks.
CUT TO:
INT. LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
The door swings open to reveal the MORALITY POLICE, their stern faces shadowed by the hallway light.
MORALITY POLICE
We had a complaint about noise. Is there a party here?
TaHEREH
(shaking her head)
No officer, it was just the radio.
The Morality Police PUSHES past her and begins searching the house. Marji watches, her heart pounding.
FADE OUT.
TO BE CONTINUED…
(Note: This scene serves to enhance the suspense, the danger Marji and her family live in, and hints at the possible disaster that’s about to befall them.)
