Director Eran Riklis Talks About His New Film 'Reading Lolita in Tehran' - Interview
Director Eran Riklis Talks About His New Film 'Reading Lolita in Tehran' based on the memoir of Azar Nafisi.
After speaking with director Eran Riklis about his latest film, “Reading Lolita in Tehran,” it became clear the adaptation is extremely timely, especially with the ceasefire falling apart between the United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran this morning. This film in particular, follows ordinary people navigating extraordinary political and social upheaval.
Set in revolutionary Iran, the film follows a professor who secretly gathers seven of her most dedicated female students to read and discuss banned works of Western literature, including Lolita and Pride and Prejudice, as fundamentalists tighten their grip on society. Based on the bestselling memoir by Azar Nafisi of the same name, the film stars Golshifteh Farahani, Zar Amir and Mina Kavani.
Riklis said he has long been drawn to stories that examine the emotional lives of people under intense pressure, often against the backdrop of major political and social change. Throughout his career, he has explored those themes in films including “The Syrian Bride”, “Lemon Tree”, “Dancing Arabs”, “The Human Resources Manager”, “Shelter” and “Spider in the Web.”
He said Nafisi’s memoir resonated because it combines deeply personal relationships with broader political realities. While he understood the challenges of telling such an intimate story about women in Iran, he viewed the project as an opportunity to tell a universal story about resilience, identity and the struggle to preserve hope in the face of oppression.
Riklis described the film as an emotional journey through fear, anxiety, hope and love. At its center are women confronting isolation while making life-altering decisions that test their friendships, loyalty and sense of self. Their experiences, he said, reflect larger questions about politics, betrayal and the search for certainty in an uncertain world.
“Reading Lolita in Tehran,” opens in New York on Friday, July 10, 2026 and nationwide on July 17, 2026.