Is it just me or is the Persepolis film getting zero press?
When we were in Nice last week the main shelves at FNAC (sort of the French version of Tower Records or Virgin (I almost just said “French Virgin”, nyuk nyuk)) were full of copies of the movie version of Persepolis on DVD. I was surprised, because I couldn’t remember it even being in theaters.
But it is, at least here at the Kendall Square Cinema in Cambridge. Anybody wanna go?
Is it just me or is it getting no press? Or have I just been so busy in December that I haven’t noticed? I don’t really think that’s the case because I feel like I am seeing stuff about Juno everywhere. I was just trying to figure out which studio/distributor released it and just noticed on Yahoo! Movies that it was released on Christmas Day and has made a whopping $313,000. Maybe it isn’t just me that hasn’t heard about it… The reviews seem OK. What’s the deal?
The conspiracy theory here is that it goes too far in humanizing a potential enemy, what with the (almost bizarrely) continued hostile anti-Iran rhetoric from the administration. But that doesn’t really make sense either; if anything, it could be used as propaganda with the picture it paints of life after the revolution of ‘79, and the heroine ends up fleeing to Europe rather than living under a repressive theocratic regime.
January 14th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
It didn’t open in Boston until last Friday; I think the Phoenix had a review or feature on it (probably not by Gerry Peary, however, unless the film happens to feature underage nubiles) — and I only know that because I snagged one to protect my desk while Irepotted the ficus and phildendron at work. Bust also ran a nice article last month about the film and Satrapi.
January 14th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
I wouldn’t put too much stock in the conspiracy theory (the Iranian government has condemned the film) but Persepolis is a French film, so got released there first and throughout Europe months ago; hence it’s availability on DVD. It’s done well enough to warrant a (limited) US release but the Dec. 25th release in NY and LA was strictly to qualify for Oscar consideration and hopefully get some good reviews.
Actually, the Christmas Day release may have worked against the film. Traditionally that’s a good date for animated features and family films but a black and white movie that lacks any cute and cuddly characters and which centers around a young Muslim girl coping with the Iranian revolution is not going to draw many holiday filmgoers. You would think it would appeal to young people but young boys are notoriously indifferent to stories with female protagonists and most of the films aimed at young girls these days seem to focus exclusively on fairy tales and princesses in pink. While the film will obviously appeal to fans of the graphic novel and people looking for something different, it’s hard to see this film appealing to the average American audience, and that’s a damned shame.
I’m not surprised if you aren’t seeing much press for it, especially if it’s only playing in limited markets. The cost of promoting such a non-commercial film in wide release would probably guarantee that the studio would lose money. By rolling out small they’ll try to build word of mouth and slowly open in more markets (a strategy which has so far worked well for Juno and There Will Be Blood) and if that doesn’t happen they still have a shot at an Oscar nomination which could help the film if and when they release it on DVD in the US, which is where most of their money is generated anyways.
January 14th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
You know, Trix, I have seen an uptick in Marjane Satrapi links in various blogs lately, but failed to put 2 and 2 together and realize that it was connected to the film release. In the past few weeks I have been doing more skimming than reading. And, really, more not-even-skimming than skimming.
January 14th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Marco, you make many good points. Still, the books were bestsellers and were well loved, and have also been around for a while (plenty of time to grow through word of mouth), so it should have a ready-made audience.
I guess I felt like the film was not even getting promoted to even people like me who read and loved the book in obvious channels like NPR. But you know what? It was. It’s just me that’s been not really paying attention.
January 14th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
NPR, sure. I was referring more to TV and print ads (I did see some banner ads on some film sites) but I think Persepolis is still a niche film with a niche audience. Movies based on comic books and graphic novels that break huge normally do so because they are marketed heavily towards people who don’t normally read comics or graphic novels. I wish it were showing here already but who knows if it will get to Texas, where I imagine it will be an even tougher sale outside of Austin or a few art theaters in some of the larger cities. Oh well, there’s always DVD or BitTorrent.