I was planning to write all about Persepolis, the fantastic film I saw last week with the ex-blogger most recently known as Educand. But then I got online this morning and saw this fascinating interview with the author/cartoonist/writer of the film and the comics on which it is based, and the following quote just blew me away:

Nothing strikes [cartoonist Marjane Satrapi] as more stupid than fanaticism. "A Muslim fanatic and a Christian fanatic, a Jewish fanatic, a secular fanatic, an atheist fanatic, a communist fanatic - all of them are the same. The thinking that if you don't think like me, that if you are not with me, then you are against me, this is something to condemn." She extends the parallels to "the bearded guy of my country [Iran] and George Bush. . . . One says, 'Read the Koran,' the other says, 'Read the Bible.' One is fighting the axis of evil, the other one is fighting the big Satan. God is their best friend, God is with them. . . . They use different words, but the idea remains the same."

Her insights are ... well, you be the judge. Please, read the full interview, and then see the film. It is truly excellent in every way: visually, historically, politically, humorously, sadly, sweetly, powerfully. I'm going to go see it again, probably tomorrow, because it was just that good. You should know I haven't seen a movie more than once in the theater in years. I used to do it fairly frequently, but it's been ages since I saw anything that I thought warranted a second look on the big screen. Persepolis is it, and the subject/author/artist behind it is someone I know I'm going to be watching and listening to.

Congratulations, Ms. Satrapi, on your very much deserved Oscar nomination, and thank you for sharing your story and your art. I hope all the wee children won't be too heartbroken when you pluck the golden statuette from the paws of Ratatouille and the flippers of Surf's Up on Oscar night. (Assuming there will be an Oscar night this year.) Bon chance!