Reading Lolita in Tehran

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1:57

Reading Lolita in Tehran

Jul 2026

1h 47m

Drama

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82%

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33 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

The screen adaptation of Azar Nafisi's beloved memoir tells the true story of a literature professor in revolutionary Iran who, amidst censorship and religious extremism, gathers seven of her most dedicated female students to immerse themselves in banned literary classics. A film by Eran Riklis starring Golshifteh Farahani (Paterson), Zar Amir (Holy Spider), and Mina Kavani (No Bears).

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Thelma Adams

AARP Movies for Grownups

Jul 21, 2026

4/5

Beloved book club fiction gets the big-screen treatment in this condensed, thought-provoking adaptation of Azar Nafisi’s 2003 memoir of the same name.

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Peter Travers

The Travers Take

Jul 17, 2026

2.5/4

The execution is clumsy, even didactic, but you’ll cheer as women rebel against cultural censorship and an enslaving patriarchy by reading forbidden books and spreading the word.

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Christian Zilko

IndieWire

Jul 16, 2026

C+

When your audience has likely already bought into your core message before they make it out of the concession line, you have to eventually offer them something richer. For all of its noble intentions, “Reading Lolita in Tehran” never quite gets there.

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Gisela Savdie

Letra Urbana

Oct 20, 2026

More than a film about Iran, the movie is a universal reflection on the value of culture in the face of intolerance. It reminds us that, even in the most adverse circumstances, reading can become an act of resistance and hope. [Full review in Spanish]

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William Schwartz

Book & Film Globe

Aug 16, 2026

An awkward combination of naive and smug, willing to acknowledge that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard isn’t made up entirely of illiterate knuckle-dragging cavemen, but refusing to seriously consider the greater implications of that fact.

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Monique Jones

AWFJ.org

Aug 11, 2026

Films like Reading Lolita in Tehran give American viewers a chance to see Iranian women as individual human beings instead of relying on the stereotypes we’re fed in American media.

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Meloney

Aug 9, 2026

Enjoyed this movie very much. Gave insight into women’s experiences in another culture and another time.

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Simon

Jul 30, 2026

A stereotypical portrayal of an evil Iranian regime against the freedom of the West. Fails to discuss some of the interesting questions that it is almost too fearful to raise. Are the heroines children lost to her when she moves to the US, for example? What does a book like Lolita say about the West? Some of the books used for chapter titles in the movie have little relevance to what else is going on. If you want a shallow exposure to how oppressive Iran is to women and what a savior the West is then this may be for you. If you are looking for something more thoughtful try Toy Story.

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Elliot L

@ecl11 Sep 20, 2026

Chilling view of real Iran. Now Iran is growing more and more secular. Resentment under the hijab.

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John T

@JohnTesnohlidek Jul 27, 2026

Terrific adaptation of Azar Nafisi’s extraordinary book.

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Cy

Jul 15, 2026

Fuck everyone associated with this trash.

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Moody C

@MoodyC Jul 14, 2026

A brisk walk into Iran’s past when women were allowed to wear & read whatever they want before revolution. Unfortunately, author’s personal story not so much compelling as her country’s history but Farahani is as compelling as she is beautiful so she will keep you watching.

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Eran Riklis

Director

Golshifteh Farahani

Actor

Zar Amir-Ebrahimi

Actor

Mina Kavani

Actor

Lara Wolf

Actor

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Synopsis

The screen adaptation of Azar Nafisi's beloved memoir tells the true story of a literature professor in revolutionary Iran who, amidst censorship and religious extremism, gathers seven of her most dedicated female students to immerse themselves in banned literary classics. A film by Eran Riklis starring Golshifteh Farahani (Paterson), Zar Amir (Holy Spider), and Mina Kavani (No Bears).

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
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 25, 2026
Runtime: 1h 47m

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