All good points Makhno. I gave some leeway to the film, probably because I'm a huge comic nerd and love the books (which include a greater discussion of both the US and Israel[marginally]) so much. The film, as well as the books, are largely personal and approach the political, effectively in my opinion, through that lens. The West (mostly the young leftists she hangs out with in Vienna) as portrayed in the film romanticizes her suffering, exotifies and objectifies her as an Iranian, cheats her and leaves her destitute until she goes homes and recovers (to leave again later on). That critique is more aimed at the West's views and behavior towards Iran, and not the historical context that produced it. To me this is just as important these days when racism from liberals, progressives and radicals (the folks most likely to see Persepolis) comes largely in the form of exotification.

Another thing to consider is that for you and I, we appropriately focus on our country's role in messing up the Middle East. Satrapi is Iranian so while she will mention the US and other countries, her focus primarily is on Iran. That seems like a plausible explanation for the focus. It probably would have been possible for the film to include everything the books did, more even, but it didn't. To me that failure is as an adaptation, not a story.

Thanks for starting a real discussion in a movie thread! Doesn't happen so often.

ps. Osirak was in Iraq, not Iran.