Marjane Satrapi: 5 Marjane Satrapi movies to re-watch as Persepolis novelist passes away

The world of cinema and graphic literature will be deprived of one of its most peculiar voices as Marjane Satrapi passed away at the age of 56. The Iranian-French artist is best known for bringing her celebrated graphic memoir Persepolis to the big screen in an Oscar-nominated animated film, with her creations characterized by a witty, rebellious style, a deep humanism, and a genre-defying approach.

Each of Marjane Satrapi's works was an examination of identity, exile, grief, freedom, and the strange absurdities of life while always being quite funny. These five films will serve as a wonderful reminder to those who enjoyed her extraordinary filmography and will remind others of why she touched people of all ages and cultures.

Chicken with Plums

When it comes to Marjane Satrapi, a movie that should be getting so much more attention than it did upon its release is definitely Chicken with Plums. Based on her own graphic novel, the movie tells the story of a famous violinist who is looking back on the joys of love, the sorrows of regret, and the lost moments in life.

What starts as a tragedy turns into a humorous and even fun fantasy, romance, and black comedy. Satrapi's sensuous imagery and playful handling of the subject matter make heartbreak seem more palpable, more real, than in real-life scenarios. Her talent for seeing the beauty and absurdity in the most painful moments of life are showcased perfectly in the film.

Marjane Satrapi in The Gang of the Jotas

While not as well known as some of Marjane Satrapi's other films, The Gang of the Jotas proved her ability to venture into different genres and mediums, as she played the role of La femme. The story is set against the backdrop of adolescence and youthful rebellion, reflecting the turmoil in which friendships, dreams, and identity can sometimes clash.

Satrapi's characteristic blend of humor and empathy ensures that the story remains grounded in its emotional aspects, and it is another engaging example of her allurement of outsiders looking for a home in the world.

Radioactive

Biopics tend to do what's considered standard fare, but Radioactive was never standard fare. The film is directed by Marjane Satrapi and is a radical look at the life of Marie Curie, played by Rosamund Pike. It's not just about science, it's about the drive, the sacrifice, the obsession and the legacy of discovery.

Lauren Redniss' novel explores the historical events that seem so relevant in the movie thanks to the use of the visual flair and urgency added by Satrapi. The outcome is a biographical drama that is as much a portrait of a pioneering scientist as it is an illustration of the power of innovative ideas to change the world.

The Voices

Marjane Satrapi also made one of the weirdest dark comedies of the 2010s out of a serial killer tale. The Voices stars Ryan Reynolds as a lonely, factory-working guy, whose pets speak to him. It is a combination of horror and humor for the most part, but with surprising depth.

However, under its over-the-top premise, there is a very clever examination of isolation, mental illness and the need for connection to other people, which makes it one of Satrapi's most unique and memorable films.

Dear Paris

The final film in Marjane Satrapi's directorial career, Dear Paris tells a series of intertwined tales set across the French capital. The movie's mixture of love, humor and tears is refreshing in a way that is tender and understanding of the common man's journey through the unpredictable turns of life.

Satrapi's depiction of Paris is not romantic, instead a lived-in portrait of life in the city: a picture of warm, heartfelt resilience and human connection.