The Iranian government has lodged a protest with France over a showing of the animated movie based on Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis graphic novel at the Cannes Film Festival where it is one of twenty-two films in competition for the festival's top prize.  The black and white film, which is faithful to Satrapi's distinctive drawing style and character design, was produced in France (see 'Persepolis Feature Profiled in New York Times') and will be distributed here in the fall by Sony Pictures Classics.

Satrapi replied to criticism from the Iranian government by stating: 'It is not a political film, if Western audiences end up considering Iranians as human beings, not as abstract notions like 'Islamic fundamentalists,' 'terrorists,' or the 'Axis of evil,' then I'll feel like I've done something.'  Satrapi told the International Herald Tribune that she decided to make the film in France because 'I had this doubt about Hollywood; that they might do my project like another Not Without My Daughter, a movie which would make Iranians look like crazy people.'

Interestingly, the International Herald Tribune reported that, while she has a cult following in France, Ms. Satrapi has sold more books in the U.S. where she has 'caught on' with a sizable, politically aware female audience (see 'Persepolis, the Stealth Hit').  Regardless of whether or not the film wins a prize at Cannes, it should do well in its American arthouse release this fall thanks in part to a stellar vocal cast that includes Gena Rowlands, Catherine Deneuve, Sean Penn and Kirsten Dunst.  Savvy retailers should pay attention to when the Persepolis movie plays in their area and consider using window displays and other outreach techniques to bring in new customers for Satrapi's growing body of work, which also includes Persepolis 2, Embroideries, and Chicken With Plums.