Italian
A cinematic bridge amid escalating tensions
On October 1, as the skies above Israel throbbed with the exchange of missiles from Iran, Israeli director Eran Riklis was in Tel Aviv, holding on to a hopeful thought. His new film, Reading Lolita in Tehran, was set to premiere at the prestigious Rome Film Festival. The director warmly describes his film as “an iconic Iranian story, featuring iconic Iranian actresses.”
A night of celebration
Come October 27, just a day after Israel retaliated with its own missile strikes on Iran, Riklis found himself on stage at the Rome Film Festival, glowing with pride. He accepted the special jury prize alongside a stellar ensemble cast including Golshifteh Farahani, Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Mina Kavani, Isabella Nefar, and Raha Rahbari.
Art over the backdrop of conflict
In these turbulent times, Reading Lolita in Tehran—an adaptation of Azar Nafisi’s acclaimed memoir about a fearless literature teacher in post-revolution Tehran—stands as a potent symbol of unity. The film shows the incredible potential of cinematic collaborations to counter political turmoil.
At the film’s press conference in Rome, Farahani eloquently remarked, “These girls are gathered around literature, around art, around culture. As artists, we don’t take refuge in bombs and wars; we take refuge in art.”
Breaking barriers with filmmaking
Amir Ebrahimi, who won the Cannes Best Actress award in 2022 for her role in Holy Spider, expressed that working with an Israeli director was nothing new for her. In fact, just last year, she co-directed Tatami with Guy Nattiv, marking the first collaboration between Iranian and Israeli filmmakers.
Facing criticism from her Palestinian friends for choosing to work with Israelis, Ebrahimi responds with a message of unity. “We are all in the same situation: Iranian people, Palestinian people, and Israeli people. We are all hostages to the people in power.”
Ebrahimi emphasized the need to go beyond hostilities. “Just like Tatami, Reading Lolita in Tehran was another great opportunity to get to know each other,” she added.
The journey from page to screen
Riklis, known for his compelling female-centric dramas like The Syrian Bride and Lemon Tree, found himself deeply drawn to Nafisi’s narrative. In 2017, he reached out to Nafisi in Washington, and the two embarked on a cross-cultural journey to bring the story to life.
Collaborating with U.S. writer Marjorie David, Riklis worked meticulously on the screenplay, ensuring the script was enriched by multiple cultural perspectives.
The film, which portrays Nafisi gathering seven female students to form a clandestine book club amidst the rise of post-revolution extremism in Iran, was shot in Italy. It’s a product of international collaboration, co-produced by Israel’s United King Films, Italy’s Minerva Pictures, and Rosamont with RAI Cinema. London-based WestEnd Films is managing its international sales.
A story of courage and defiance
Nafisi, who attended the film’s premiere in Rome, was visibly moved by the adaptation of her memoir. She drew poignant connections between her story and the recent tragic events in Iran, including the widespread protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini.
Quoting the slogan of the Iranian protestors, “Woman, Life, Freedom,” Nafisi highlighted the unyielding courage of a new generation. She elaborated on the message she hoped Reading Lolita in Tehran would convey: the shared humanity and resistance against oppressive regimes.
A universal message of hope
Nafisi passionately proclaimed, “Freedom is neither Eastern, nor Western. Freedom is universal.” She believes that both the Israeli and Iranian governments, through their ongoing conflicts, are causing widespread destruction. The film’s message is clear: hatred and division will not prevail. Following the ethos of the heroines in both the book and the movie, she urges people to unite and spread this message of hope and defiance.
Reading Lolita in Tehran demonstrates the unparalleled power of art to transcend political borders and remind us of our common humanity. Be sure to witness this extraordinary cinematic journey that stands as a testament to the unifying power of storytelling.
For more updates on groundbreaking films and insightful reviews, stay connected and share this story on social media.
