Not since Art Spiegelman's Maus has a graphic novel so successfully mined its medium to render universal a fiercely specific political struggle; naturally, fans of Marjane Satrapi's bildungsroman Persepolis feared its film adaptation might suffer an Eloise fate. Happily, as Satrapi herself both co-wrote and directed this animated feature, all of its endearing wit and bristle remains intact. Following the Iranian author from her childhood under the Shah's regime (during which she matter-of-factly chats up both Marx and God) and as a refugee in Germany after the revolution, Persepolis is this year's most gorgeous film — all black-and-white curves and shadows — as well as one of its most ideologically and emotionally sophisticated.

– Lisa Rosman