While both the novel and film focus on Marjane's story of her upbringing in Iran during the time of the Islamic Regime, the novel more deeply focuses on Marjane and her family. This allows for the reader to grow fond of Marjane. The film on the other hand seems to have less of her emotions and more of the Iranian challenges.
Each have particular scenes unshared with the other... to one example, in the film, there is a scene when Marjane leaves a party where she lies to a guy about her ethnicity...we see her shadow and a shadow of an older women, her grandmother, reminding her that she must be true to herself-- later insinuating the reason for her return back home. Although in the book, it was more than that, she was kicked out, homesick, and ashamed of her current self. Both the novel and the film depict Marjane's story well, but I on one hand prefer the novel. I found myself becoming attached to her character, as a reader, I watched her fight her battles and grow up to be a free women. While I watched the film, it seemed informative, less insightful to her as a person and when she left, I found myself grieving more for her grandmother's death than feeling happy for her freedom.
I think I might have different taste so my opinion is quite opposite from yours. Even though I agree that the film concentrate more about the Iranian challenges rather then Marjane's emotion. But, I think that when we look at the issue in broader view, we can understand deeper the impact that make an individual behave in specific ways.
ReplyDeleteI also like the part the old lady appear to remind her about her identity. It is more deep to see that inside herself she recognize the wrong thing she did and the guilty about abandon her identity.
I agree with you that the ending is not that good. I can't even feel how see can get the freedom from divorce and the scene just move so fast that cut off all the emotion. I felt bity for grandma as well the ending was so sad!