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Reading Lolita in Tehran (2024)
Director: Eran Rikli
Since the use of the hijab forms the core of the story, it is necessary, as an outsider, to comment on what I observe of the practice of hijab around me. What started as a means for upper-class women to drape their heads for protection against storms and as status symbols slowly evolved into a clan identity. In ancient Arabic culture, peasants and slaves did not wear headscarves.
At first, head coverings were optional attire to signify humility and modesty. Then they became an outward manifestation of an inner commitment to the Divine. They were alleged to be voluntary and a clear sign of women's empowerment. Women wore them because they chose to. There was no compulsion in religion, they said. Non-believers said it was oppression of the fairer sex. "Nay," said the ladies themselves.
Over the years, it has become expected that a Muslim girl be covered from head to toe.
Early this year, a young Indian Muslim girl, Wahida Akdhar, was ostracised on social media for dancing to a Tamil song with suggestive lyrics. In fact, she was fully covered her bare necessities when she performed her dance in a reel. Yet her performance was still seen as an insult to the garb she wore, which indirectly represented her religion. Hence, she was deemed to have disrespected her religion. So something that was optional became empowerment, then became an indirect tool to dictate.
This was how Iranians who overthrew the Shah in 1979 must have felt after bringing in their new leader from Paris, Ayatollah Khomeini. Iranians thought they had it bad when America's puppet, the Shah, was ruling the country. The height of their opulence came when the Shah decided to transform the arid Persepolis into a Garden of Eden by importing trees and roses from Paris. That was to mark the 2,500th anniversary of the Persian Empire. That was also when the common people were suffering economically. Royalties from around the world attended the function, which was televised worldwide.
The movie's story begins just after the successful Islamic Revolution in 1979. Overseas Iranians returned to the country with high hopes, aiming to restore Iran to its glory days. Unfortunately, the Islamic Council had different plans. They clamp down on academic freedom and impose a strict Islamic mode of dressing on women. Many classic works which the protagonist uses at the University as an English Professor are deemed unsuitable and corrupting the minds of the youth.
For 15 long years, the professor, Azar Nafisi (the author of the book that was made into this film), stayed in Iran, hoping that things would change. Zielch. After being disillusioned by academia, she started a book club to discuss certain English-language classics. Even though the stories in these classics may not be deemed virtuous in the republic's eyes, this is what happens in real life. Good people do bad things, and bad people do good things. This is what makes the world go round. It nevertheless makes one ponder how the world can be so unipolar. Chaos is the essence of life. The question is what is good and what is bad in life. Who is the villain, and who are the good ones in life?
P.S. Lolita is a 1955 novel written by the Russian and American novelist Vladimir Nabokov.
Farouk Gulsara (asokansham@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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