International premiere

Reading Lolita in Tehran

Local title
Lugedes Teheranis “Lolitat”
Director
Eran Riklis
Country
Italy, Israel
Year
2024
Festival
28th Black Nights Film Festival
Programme
Official Selection - Competition
Genre
drama, social drama
Subject
individual vs society, education, women, activism, politics, human rights

A fearless tale of women who defy oppression, finding solidarity in the face of tyranny.

In post-revolution Iran, where women’s rights and freedoms were suppressed, Azar, a bold and inspired teacher, clandestinely gathered seven of her most committed female students to read forbidden Western classics. Despite the grave dangers posed by morality squads and fundamentalists, these women risked everything to find a safe space in Nafisi’s living room where they could speak their minds. As they explore each literary work, the teacher and her students dive deep into their shared social being on the most genuine note. This is a story of bravery, defiance, and the endearing power of literature in the face of oppression.

Starring Golshifteh Farahani (“Pirates of the Caribbean”) and Palme d'Or winner Zar Amir Ebrahimi (“Holy Spider”), “Reading Lolita in Teheran” is a gripping adaptation of Azar Nafisi’s bestselling memoir. It captures the unbreakable spirit of women defying censorship, tyranny, and injustice as they find strength in a world determined to silence them.

Milani Perera

Director
Eran Riklis
Screenwriter
Marjorie David
Cast
Golshifteh Farahani, Zar Amir, Mina Kavani
Producer
Marica Stocchi, Gianluca Curti, Moshe Edery, Santo Versace, Eran Riklis, Michael Sharfshtein
Cinematographer
Helene Louvart
Composer
Yonatan Riklis
Music
Yonatan Riklis
Sound
Aviv Aldema, Nin Hazan
World sales
WestEnd Films
Runtime
Language
Persian, English
Subtitles
Estonian, English
Director
Eran Riklis

Eran Riklis (1954) graduated in 1984 as the first Israeli from the prestigious British National Film and Television School. His second film, “Cup Final” (1991), which deals with football and war, brought him international recognition. From then on, his films have frequently been showcased at the world’s leading film festivals, including Cannes and Berlin. Among the works of this top Israeli director are acclaimed films such as the tragicomedy “The Syrian Bride” (2004), the allegorical “Lemon Tree” (PÖFF 2008), and “Dancing Arabs” (PÖFF 2014), which explores ethnic relations. Riklis’s spy drama “Spider in the Web” (2019) was produced through a significant international collaboration, with Ben Kingsley and Monica Bellucci starring in the lead roles.

Tzomet volkan (Volcano Junction, 1999), Pituy (2002), The Syrian Bride (2004), Etz Limon (Sidrunipuu, PÖFF 2008), The Human Resources Manager (2010), Playoff (2011), Zaytoun (2012), Aravim rokdim (Tantsivad araablased, PÖFF 2014), Shelter (2017), Reading Lolita in Tehran (2024)

Grand Prix for The Best Film, grant of 20 000 euros from the city of Tallinn, Award for Best Director, grant of 5000€ from Alexela

Screenings

1st Lux Hall Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
Screening090101 / Lugedes Teheranis “Lolitat”
SubtitlesEnglish, Estonian
Q&A guestsEran Riklis (Director, Producer)
Q&A duration
Screening duration
Trailer
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