For their first film, “Persepolis,” Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi could not have asked for a better reception, with both critics and audiences falling for the animated adaptation of the latter’s graphic novel, culminating in a Best Animated Feature Oscar nomination for the picture. It’s been four years but the duo is back, this time with a live action film, and it looks like if anything, the fantasy elements are at a higher pitch this time around.
Adapted from another graphic novel by Satrapi, ”Chicken With Plums” returns to Iran once again, this time telling the story of Nassar Ali Khan, Satrapi’s great uncle and famed Iranian musician, who aspires to die after his wife breaks his lute. The film tracks the last eight days before he dies, as he is visited by family, memories and hallucinations. Mathieu Amalric takes on the lead role in the film that seems to have the directing duo enjoying the ability to play with color. The trailer is bursting with vivid imagery and fantasy elements that remind us of Jean-Pierre Jeunet, among others. But this story of death certainly won’t be lacking in life and it looks to be another unique take on Iranian culture.
Isabella Rossellini, Maria de Medeiros and Chiara Mastroianni co-star in the film that will hit Venice and TIFF. Check it out below. [Twitch]
