I’ve never read the book, but have seen the movie several times. I’ve seen TCM’s Robert Osborne complain how the movie with Peter Sellers trivialized with comedy the very serious nature of the book with its pedophilia.
Yet I think the movie had to have those light moments (Camp Climax for Girls) just to drive away that “eww” factor.
One thing I am surprised at: That a remake of the movie hasn’t been done showing all the “beauty and grace” that pedophilia brings. Showing a happy and content Lolita who suffered no harm at the hands of her older lover.
“all the “beauty and grace” that pedophilia brings. Showing a happy and content Lolita who suffered no harm at the hands of her older lover.”
That’s certainly not what happens in the book.
The movie done more recently with Jeremy Irons and Frank Langella was much more true to the book. Much better than the mason/seller’s movie by far.
I’ve actually assigned the book as required reading in my Internet Crimes and Vulnerabilities class. I tell the students to try to read it in as few sittings as possible and to just get immersed in it as I feel it’s a chance to get into the mind of a pedophile.
The point where Humbolt thinks about having a baby with Lolita and imagines molesting that child as Lolita will soon be too old for him always makes me feel ill.