Reading Lolita in Tehran

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Reading Lolita in Tehran

1h 47m

Drama

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5 Reviews

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In revolutionary Iran, as fundamentalists tighten their grip on society, a professor secretly gathers seven of her most dedicated female students to read and discuss forbidden classics of Western literature, including Lolita and Pride and Prejudice. Based on the bestselling memoir by Azar Nafisi.

Eran Riklis

Director

Golshifteh Farahani

Actor

Zar Amir-Ebrahimi

Actor

Mina Kavani

Actor

Lara Wolf

Actor

Bahar Beihaghi

Actor

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Wendy Ide

Screen International

11/13/2024

This is a stirring, if conventionally-made story of courage and curiosity in the face of oppression.

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Tomris Laffly

Variety

10/28/2024

Riklis’ adaptation doesn’t always culminate in the grand emotions that Nafisi’s tale is made of. But it still lands as a respectable, aptly rebellious and deeply feminine exercise.

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Laura Pérez

Fotogramas

Jul 25

3/5

[The film] offers a successful overview of Iran's history,...but it misses the powerful stories of each of the women to generate the emotion found in other films about reading as a refuge and gesture of rebellion. [Full review in Spanish]

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Carlos Boyero

El Pais (Spain)

Jul 25

It's watchable and enjoyable, but it's also discursive and repetitive. The intentions are very good, but the result less so. [Full review in Spanish]

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Begoña Piña

Cinemanía (Spain)

Jul 23

3/5

Culture as a tool against oppression. [Full review in Spanish]

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Runa R

@runa.r Jul 15

This Israeli director – Eran Riklis – made this film in 2024, at the age of 69. It is set in Iran. Films of this kind tend to be made either by Iranian filmmakers in exile, or by Israelis or others considered enemies of the Iranian regime. One way or another, we continue to learn about the horrors inflicted on women in that country.

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Reading Lolita in Tehran: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In revolutionary Iran, as fundamentalists tighten their grip on society, a professor secretly gathers seven of her most dedicated female students to read and discuss forbidden classics of Western literature, including Lolita and Pride and Prejudice. Based on the bestselling memoir by Azar Nafisi.

Director: Eran Riklis
Producer: Marica Stocchi, Gianluca Curti, Moshe Edery, Santo Versace, Eran Riklis, Michael Sharfshtein
Screenwriter: Marjorie David, Azar Nafisi
Distributor: Greenwich Entertainment
Production Co: Minerva Pictures, WestEnd Films, RAI Cinema, Eran Riklis Productions, Rosamont, United King Films, Topia Communications
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Persian
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 10, 2026, Limited
Runtime: 1h 47m