INTERVIEW: Marjorie David on 'Reading Lolita in Tehran'

A book both beloved (over 100 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list) and banned (in Iran), Iranian author Azar Nafisi’s memoir, Reading Lolita in Tehran, was adapted to screen in 2023 by Israeli filmmaker Eran Riklis based on a script he co-wrote with American Marjorie David. In 2024, it won the Audience Award and Special Jury Prize at the Rome Film Festival, the city where it was filmed.

Reading Lolita in Tehran is set to premiere in the US on July 10 through Greenwich Entertainment. The delay is curious considering the book’s popularity in the US. “It was hard to get an American distributor for some reason,” David admits. “It got European distribution immediately. I don’t know why nobody picked it up here for so long. It seems nuts! It’s of the moment, it’s of special interest to women. It’s of interest to anybody interested in Iran.”

American interest in Iran could hit a new high this summer as a result of current events. Whether the ongoing US-Iran hostilities will help or hurt the film’s release is yet to be seen. One thing is for sure, though—Americans can and perhaps should gain insights into the people and culture of Iran from this story. And those who have read the book will appreciate how loyal the script stays to the true story at its core.

David is a Hollywood veteran. She’s written for some of contemporary television’s most memorable series, from Hill Street Blues to Chicago Hope, and from the 90210 revamp to Brothers & Sisters and Taken. She is also a prolific producer, with executive producer credits on these and nearly a dozen series in the last 25 years.

AWFJ had the chance to talk with David about her work adapting Reading Lolita, on which she also has an executive producer credit, how it fit with her career and what she hopes audiences will take away from the film.

Read the full interview on AWFJ.org.