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Compiled by Martin Williams
Persepolis This is an award-winning French animated film based on the autobiographical graphic novels by Marjane Satrapi, and is also nominated for best animated film at the Oscars on Sunday. It’s about a spirited girl growing up in Tehran before and after the Islamic revolution. Her worried parents send her to live in Vienna after fearing for her safety, but there she finds herself an outsider. When she returns to Iran as an adult, things are no better. The story may be downbeat but critics are raving about its humor and humanity. It’s worlds away from Hollywood animated product, and makes for a fascinating comparison with Rambo, another cartoon about political and social oppression that starts today.
Traveling with Yoshitomo Nara Yoshitomo Nara is a renowned Japanese pop artist whose works feature cute, cartoon-like children and creatures, sometimes with sinister elements thrown in. Nara is well regarded around the world, and this documentary follows him on an international tour, which includes Taipei, as the artist takes on collaborative projects for the first time.
Perng Mang: The Haunted Drum More eclectic Thai horror in this period piece as a young man of social standing in the early 19th century learns how to play the possessed drum of the title, which turns out to have romantic advantages but fatal consequences for a good number of characters. Thai film buffs sneered at this one, which was made by two first-time directors. Good for a few kooky death scenes, though, as the drum — made from the skin of a beautiful woman — attracts the attention of a rival musician.

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