Reading Lolita in Tehran

In Tehran during a time of escalating fundamentalism, Azar Nafisi forms a clandestine gathering of her most dedicated female students to delve into forbidden Western literature. As Islamic morality patrols rampage through the city and universities fall under the grip of conservative ideals, these young women find solace in exploring the works of Nabokov, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Henry James, and Jane Austen. They are encouraged to voice their thoughts and, gradually, they remove their veils both metaphorically and literally. In this intimate space, the students find kindred spirits in the heroines of these novels as they navigate their own lives amidst a tumultuous political, moral, and personal landscape. This compelling tale weaves together stories of courage, dreams, hope, and love under the shadow of repression.