The lead actress of Reading Lolita in Tehran was banned from Iran.
Golshifteh Farahani starred in Body of Lies in 2008. After she appeared at the premiere without a hijab, Iran's Ministry of Culture issued a domestic work ban and confiscated her passport at the airport. In 2012, the government formally declared she was unwelcome to return. She has lived in exile since.
The film she's leading is about an Iranian professor who secretly gathered female students to read banned books. Director Eran Riklis deliberately cast Iranian exiles for every role. Her co-star Zar Amir Ebrahimi was also forced out of Iran, then won Best Actress at Cannes 2022 for Holy Spider.
Reading Lolita in Tehran is based on Azar Nafisi's memoir, a number one New York Times bestseller. If the book is already on your shelf, this is worth the trip to theaters.
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