Incredibly sad news today, as Oscar-nominated French-Iranian filmmaker, writer, and illustrator Marjane Satrapi has died at the age of 56. According to a released statement, she “died of sadness.” I don’t want to read too much into that, but the statement further notes that she died a little over a year after the death of Mattias Ripa, her husband and the love of her life.”
Satrapi is best known for her graphic novel, Persepolis, which she then adapted into an acclaimed, Oscar-nominated feature film. The story is based on her childhood growing up in Tehran during and after the Islamic Revolution. That film was followed by 2011’s Chicken with Plums, also an adaptation, which centered on one of her relatives who loses the will to live after his cherished instrument is broken.
Satrapi followed that with 2014’s The Voices, which remains one of the best early comeback vehicles for Ryan Reynolds. The pitch black psychological comedy followed a schizophrenic man whose mental illness drives him to murder and conversation with his pets.
I met Satrapi a couple of times, and while our conversations were brief, they always left me wanting to speak with her more. Her wit and sharp insights into Iranian culture, which often challenged preconceived notions, will be dearly missed.
My good friend Roxana Hadadi did an amazing interview with her for us back in 2012, and I encourage you to read it here.
