‘Reading Lolita in Tehran’ Trailer Reveals a Powerful Story of Resistance in Iran

Greenwich Entertainment and Kanopy have unveiled the official US trailer for Reading Lolita in Tehran, a moving drama based on Azar Nafisi’s bestselling memoir. Set in 1980s revolutionary Iran, the film follows professor Azar Nafisi, played by Golshifteh Farahani, as she secretly gathers a group of female students to discuss banned Western literature while fundamentalists tighten control over society and universities.

Inside Nafisi’s living room, novels like Lolita and Pride & Prejudice become symbols of freedom, hope, and rebellion. As morality squads patrol Tehran, the women slowly open up, sharing their fears, dreams, and frustrations through the stories they read. The trailer highlights the emotional contrast between the oppressive outside world and the liberating power of literature.

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Eran Riklis, the movie also stars Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Mina Kavani, Reza Diako, Arash Marandi, Catayoune Ahmadi, and Sina Parvaneh. Riklis, known for films like Lemon Tree and Syrian Bride, brings an intimate and human touch to the politically charged story. The screenplay is written by Marjorie David and adapted from Nafisi’s memoir.

With its timely themes, emotional performances, and gripping atmosphere, Reading Lolita in Tehran looks set to become one of 2026’s most talked-about indie dramas. The film is scheduled to release in US theaters on July 10, 2026.