Paris (AP) — Marjane Satrapi, the acclaimed Iranian-French cartoonist and filmmaker known for her autobiographical graphic novel and film "Persepolis," died at the age of 56, the French presidency announced Thursday.
French Presidency Pays Tribute
"Her passing marks the loss of a leading figure of French culture and an artist devoted to freedom, whose work carried a universal message and earned her immense international acclaim," the French presidency said in a statement. President Emmanuel Macron and his wife "pay tribute to a remarkable artist who transformed an Iranian childhood into a universal fable."
French media, including BFM TV, reported that Satrapi died "of sadness" a little over a year after the death of her husband, Swedish film producer and actor Mattias Ripa, according to a statement from people close to the artist.
Academy of Fine Arts Mourns
The French Academy of Fine Arts, of which she was a member, expressed deep sadness in a social media statement, paying tribute to "a passionate advocate for cinema and film education" who earlier this year created a foundation to help international students study film in Paris.
The Legacy of 'Persepolis'
Satrapi is best known for her monochrome autobiographical comic book and film "Persepolis," a coming-of-age tale set against the Islamic Revolution in Iran. The film won the Film Critics Grand Prix at the 2007 Cannes Festival and the César Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2008, and was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 2008 Oscars.
In a 2007 interview with the Associated Press at Cannes, Satrapi said the film details her life in Tehran as the willful daughter of intellectual Marxists and serves as a reminder that Iranians are like everyone else. "What we wanted to say is, if these people scare you, look closer: They have parents, they have lovers, they have hope, they have stories," she said. Iranian authorities protested the film's inclusion at Cannes, sending a letter to the French Embassy in Tehran.
Early Life and Education
Satrapi was born on Nov. 22, 1969, in Rasht, Iran. Her parents sent her to Vienna, Austria, in 1983 to escape extremism following the 1979 Revolution. After finding Austria hostile and missing her parents, she returned to Iran in 1989 to attend Tehran University, where she earned a degree in visual communications. In 1994, she moved to France, studying in Strasbourg and later settling in Paris.
Other Works and Activism
Her graphic novels also include "Broderies" and "Poulet aux prunes," which was adapted into a film. As a filmmaker, she directed several works, including "La Bande des Jotas" and "Radioactive," a biography of Marie Curie.
In 2023, Satrapi coordinated the book "Femme, vie, liberté" with a group of artists and academics to illustrate the revolts in Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022. The work denounces repression and lack of human rights, especially for women, under the Iranian regime.
Honors and Controversy
Satrapi was elected to the French Academy of Fine Arts in 2024. She declined the Legion of Honor that same year, arguing France was not doing enough to support Iranian people fighting for democracy. "Supporting the women's revolution in Iran cannot be reduced to photos or speeches," she wrote to French authorities in January 2025.
In 2024, she won the Princess of Asturias Foundation award in Spain for communication and humanities, described as "an essential voice in the defense of human rights and freedom" and "a symbol of civic engagement led by women."
Satrapi's husband died in April 2025 at age 53. On her Instagram page, a series of posts included the message: "Because I have lost the love of my life."
