‘Tatami' Trailer: Middle Eastern Politics Threaten the Judo World Championship in Venice Film Festival Favorite
'Tatami' is looking to bridge the divide in international politics through fiction. The feature, which premiered at the 2023 Venice Film Festival, is billed as being one of the first narrative films co-directed by Iranian and Israeli filmmakers.
Zar Amir, who previously won the Cannes Best Actress award for her turn in 'Holy Spider,' stars in and co-directs 'Tatami' with Israeli filmmaker Guy Nattiv, who is best known for his Oscar-winning short 'Skin.' Nattiv also directed 'Golda' starring Helen Mirren.
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'Tatami' is based on true events, and stars Amir as the coach of Iranian judo athlete (Arienne Mandi) who is ordered to withdraw from the world championship from the Islamic Republic instead of face an Israeli competitor. The official synopsis reads: 'Iranian female judokas Leila (Mandi) and her coach Maryam (Amir), travel to the Judo World Championship, intent on bringing home Iran's first gold medal. Midway through the Judo World Championships, they receive an ultimatum from the Islamic Republic ordering Leila to fake an injury and lose, or she will be branded a traitor of the state. With her own and her family's freedom at stake, Leila is faced with an impossible choice: comply with the Iranian regime as her coach Maryam implores her to do, or fight on for the gold. Facing a life-or-death decision, she risks everything, putting the lives of her, her coach, and her family in danger. The film captures the raw intensity of elite competition, the sacrifices athletes make, and the brutal reality of political interference in sports.'
'Tatami' won Best Actress and a Special Jury Award at the Tokyo Film Festival, and Best Film at the Munich Film Festival. The film was shot in Georgia.
Co-directors Amir and Nattiv spoke about the personal element of the feature. Amir herself was forced to flee Iran in 2008 after being targeted by the regime. She relocated to Paris, where she runs her production company Alambic Production.
'We believe that art is the voice of sanity cutting through the noise,' Amir and Nattiv said in a press statement. 'In recent decades the Iranian government has done everything in its power to prevent Iranians and Israelis from meeting each other at international events, without regard to the truth about how people actually feel. Despite this, we found a way. We joined forces two hours away from Tel Aviv and Tehran in Tbilisi, Georgia to tell the story of courageous Iranian athletes who risk their lives for freedom. Israeli and Iranian artists found their artistic brothers and sisters in one another, and found out that we are actually so close, and have so much in common, in sharing our art, aesthetics, and cinema.'
Amir and Nattiv continued, 'The story we decided to tell in this film is the story of too many artists and athletes who were forced to give up their dreams, sometimes forced to leave their countries and loved ones because of the conflict between systems and governments. Ultimately we hope we have made a film that will show the world that humanity and partnership always win.'
'Tatami' will be released in select theaters, including New York, on Friday, June 13 and will expand to additional markets, including Los Angeles, on Friday, June 20. Check out the trailer below.
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