Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily Entertainment GuideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Reading Lolita in Tehran

  • 2024
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
463
YOUR RATING
Golshifteh Farahani, Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Lara Wolf, Isabella Nefar, Mina Kavani, Raha Rahbari, and Bahar Beihaghi in Reading Lolita in Tehran (2024)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer2:01
1 Video
10 Photos
Drama

The autobiographical story of a fearless teacher who secretly gathers seven of her female students to read forbidden Western classics in revolutionary Iran.The autobiographical story of a fearless teacher who secretly gathers seven of her female students to read forbidden Western classics in revolutionary Iran.The autobiographical story of a fearless teacher who secretly gathers seven of her female students to read forbidden Western classics in revolutionary Iran.

  • Director
    • Eran Riklis
  • Writers
    • Marjorie David
    • Azar Nafisi
  • Stars
    • Golshifteh Farahani
    • Zar Amir Ebrahimi
    • Mina Kavani
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    463
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Eran Riklis
    • Writers
      • Marjorie David
      • Azar Nafisi
    • Stars
      • Golshifteh Farahani
      • Zar Amir Ebrahimi
      • Mina Kavani
    • 4User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:01
    Official Trailer

    Photos10

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 5
    View Poster

    Top cast16

    Edit
    Golshifteh Farahani
    Golshifteh Farahani
    • Azar Nafisi
    Zar Amir Ebrahimi
    Zar Amir Ebrahimi
    • Sanaz
    Mina Kavani
    Mina Kavani
    • Nassrin
    Reza Diako
    Reza Diako
    • Bahri
    Arash Marandi
    Arash Marandi
    • Bijan Nafisi
    Catayoune Ahmadi
    Catayoune Ahmadi
    • Mahtab
    Sina Parvaneh
    Sina Parvaneh
    • Niyazi
    Bahar Beihaghi
    Bahar Beihaghi
    • Mahshid
    Abbas Fasaei
    • Arash
    Ash Goldeh
    Ash Goldeh
    • Nima
    Hamid Karimi
    Hamid Karimi
    • Ghomi
    Zanyar Mohammadi
    Zanyar Mohammadi
    • Farzan
    Isabella Nefar
    Isabella Nefar
    • Yassi
    Shahbaz Noshir
    • Magician
    Raha Rahbari
    Raha Rahbari
    • Manna
    Lara Wolf
    Lara Wolf
    • Azin
    • Director
      • Eran Riklis
    • Writers
      • Marjorie David
      • Azar Nafisi
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews4

    6.3463
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    10thebeachlife

    A must

    A literature teacher returns to Iran after the revolution in 1979 and with her own eyes, which get wetter and wetter as the film goes on, sees the changes that happen in her beautiful country and how women suffer injustice, violence, and some of them are violently raped and executed. It looks unbearable but she stays and even continues to teach this banned Western literature in secret. Her story is heartbreaking, and with her eyes we see other stories and broken lives; but what is even more important is that maybe, hopefully, in the future the people of Iran will be able to watch this. As part of their history. As part of their troubled past.
    10imolaunger

    Stirring and full of hope

    This is not an easy watch, and the documentary style opening anchors it firmly in reality. We are very much in Iran in the late 70s, but we could equally be anywhere else where oppression exists -- where a new beginning turned into a living nightmare.

    Azar Nafisi, confidently returning from America, experiences the grim reality of Iran in the 80s. Exuberant and self-assured, her behaviour couldn't be further from what's expected of her as an educator and a woman.

    Lead actress Golshifteh Farahani has the gravitas and leadership required for the role, but also the levity and mischief that fuels Azar's acts of resistance. She creates an alchemy with the superbly matched ensemble cast, translating the political dynamics into painfully accessible human relationships.

    "There's a lot on the line for me", says a visibly tortured security guard to a non-compliant Azar, putting the responsibility on HER to save HIS skin. That scene really drove home the grotesque unfairness debilitating both sides.

    As the film progresses, you feel it viscerally: sickened and squirming, eyes brimming with tears, then warmth and joy spilling into your belly. What really shows the brutality of the regime is not even the dramatic scenes of obvious shock value. It is the small everyday moments that constantly grate on dignity and liberty, until the only choice left is to leave.

    And equally, it is the small everyday moments of defiance and connection that make you revel in joy and resistance. As the real life Azar Nafisi says in her book, these women "never had a private corner", and it is in her living room, in each other's company, that they experience privacy and individuality.

    The film asks a lot of you, but the aftertaste that remains is not of oppression or tragedy. It's one of defiant joy, unquenchable hope, a love for Iran, and the safe haven of connection.
    2Ehsan_Alikhani

    Not the Iran I Lived In

    In the early years following the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Saddam Hussein violated the treaty signed with the previous Iranian government and launched an invasion, driven by a desire to access open waters. The Iranian people have historically demonstrated that when facing foreign aggression, they set aside internal disagreements and unite to defend their homeland.

    However, the film portrays the war as a concern exclusive to hardline conservatives, implying that intellectuals, such as university students, are detached from that reality. At one point, a student who has returned from the front line sets himself on fire in the middle of class, claiming he was deceived.

    But deceived by what? He went to war to defend his country against an aggressor-an Iraq that initiated the conflict. Where is the deception in that?

    The film also shows women being flogged for having romantic or sexual relations with men. In reality, no woman is flogged merely for not being a virgin or for being in a gathering with men. Such punishments, when they occur, require legal evidence and a judge's order.

    I was born and raised during the early years of the Revolution. I witnessed the limitations and have, on occasion, even been assaulted by religious hardliners. I lived that reality. I know that era of Iranian society. So I consider myself qualified to reject this film's portrayal.

    The film is highly exaggerated. It portrays women as the primary victims, whereas in truth, restrictions applied to both men and women alike. The depiction of religious extremism on campus, forced confessions, and fabricated punishments is misleading and overstated.

    In one scene, a woman nostalgically remembers a time when shops were open, contrasting it with a present where cafes and bookstores are shuttered, presenting the country as desolate and dark. This is simply false. Even during the war-and especially after-it's well known that the development and growth which had begun during the Pahlavi era continued and still does.

    This film is no different from the biased Instagram or YouTube videos where a content creator, driven by a specific agenda, tries to paint Iran in an unfairly negative light and portray it as backward.
    1nilookhan

    Pure trash no story line horrible acting

    Let's start with the story or rather the lack of one There was no clear plot or direction and what was there was so disjointed and unengaging that I found myself completely uninterested in what was happening It felt like the filmmakers were trying to make something profound, but ended up with an incoherent mess instead The characters were another huge letdown None of them were remotely compelling or worth caring about They felt flat and underdeveloped and I never once found myself emotionally invested in their struggles I was just waiting for it to end, hoping for some kind of resolution or revelation, but nothing ever really happened The acting was absolutely atrocious The performances were stiff, lifeless, and completely unconvincing. It felt like none of the actors had any genuine connection to their roles, and their dialogue often came off as forced and unnatural. This lack of chemistry between the cast really sunk the whole film And then there's the direction wow. Just... wow. It was an absolute disaster. The pacing was sluggish, the cinematography was uninspired, and the overall tone of the film felt more like a high school project than a professionally made movie The direction did nothing to elevate the material, and in fact, it only made the film more excruciating to watch In short, Reading Lolita in Tehran is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. It fails on every level, from the plot to the performances to the direction. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone it's an exhausting, forgettable experience that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

    More like this

    Ma mère, Dieu et Sylvie Vartan
    7.2
    Ma mère, Dieu et Sylvie Vartan
    Je le jure
    6.5
    Je le jure
    Better Days
    6.9
    Better Days
    Mikado
    6.6
    Mikado
    L'amour c'est surcoté
    6.8
    L'amour c'est surcoté
    L'attachement
    7.3
    L'attachement
    Cassandre
    7.1
    Cassandre
    Bushido
    6.9
    Bushido
    À bicyclette!
    7.1
    À bicyclette!
    On ira
    6.9
    On ira
    Out of Control
    6.0
    Out of Control
    La chambre de Mariana
    7.0
    La chambre de Mariana

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Despite the film's title, "Reading Lolita in Teheran" was filmed in Italy, mostly at Cinecitta. The film's female lead actresses are Iranian artist banned by the islamic regime. Golshifteh Farahani and Zar Amir Ebrahimi live in Paris and they are not allowed to go back to their home country because of their participation in Occidental movies.

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ15

    • How long is Reading Lolita in Tehran?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 21, 2024 (Italy)
    • Countries of origin
      • Israel
      • Italy
    • Languages
      • Persian
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Leer Lolita en Teherán
    • Filming locations
      • Italy
    • Production companies
      • Minerva Pictures
      • United King Films
      • Rosamont
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,221,153
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Golshifteh Farahani, Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Lara Wolf, Isabella Nefar, Mina Kavani, Raha Rahbari, and Bahar Beihaghi in Reading Lolita in Tehran (2024)
    Top Gap
    What is the Spanish language plot outline for Reading Lolita in Tehran (2024)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.