Latest news with #Tatami
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Tatami Movie: Showtimes, Review, Songs, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos
× Would you like to review this movie? 3000 characters left Synopsis Tatami is an upcoming English movie scheduled to be released on 13 Jun, 2025. The movie is directed by Guy Nattiv, Zar Amir Ebrahimi and will feature Arienne Mandi, Jaime Ray Newman, Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Ash Goldeh as lead characters. Cast & Crew
New York Times
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘Tatami' Review: A Bitter Fight, Both on and Off the Mat
In the beginning of 'Tatami,' Leila (Arienne Mandi), a flinty Iranian judoka competing in the World Judo Championships, looks unstoppable. A gold medal seems within reach, which would be a first for Iran in the tournament's history. Unfortunately for Leila, hers isn't a feel-good underdog story — more like a Kafkaesque nightmare. Winning gold is negligible to her authoritarian government; it's more concerned with her obedience. Directed by Guy Nattiv and Zar Amir (a rare collaboration between an Israeli and an Iranian filmmaker), 'Tatami' draws inspiration from the real-life experiences of Iranian athletes who were punished or forced to seek asylum abroad after refusing to wear a hijab during their international sporting events. We see Leila defiantly release her black mane of hair on several occasions — as in flashbacks to her life in Tehran in which she's in bed with her husband or partying at an underground club. But it's not Leila's hijab that's the problem: Midway through the tournament, Leila's coach, Maryam (Amir, an Iranian exile herself), gets a call from the Iranian authorities demanding that Leila fake an injury and drop out immediately to avoid competing against an Israeli athlete. (Iran doesn't recognize Israel, and forbids its athletes from competition with Israeli athletes.) The script is annoyingly fuzzy on these details, brushing knotty geopolitics aside for a more straightforward story about the oppression of Iranian women and the menacing, absurd ways in which they're policed. We see plenty of Leila's scuffles on the mat, shot stylishly in velvety black and white, but the meat of the conflict happens on the sidelines and in the corridors of the stadium. That is where Leila (who refuses to to stop competing) and Maryam lock horns; the Iranian government's cronies appear dressed as plain-clothed spectators; and the tournament's organizers struggle to decide how best to protect Leila. The mounting tensions of these moving parts — and steely performances by Mandi and Amir — make for an engrossing thriller fueled by female rage. TatamiNot rated. Running time: 1 hour 45 minutes. In theaters.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘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. More from IndieWire Owen Wilson Takes a Swing on a Second Chance in Golf Comedy Series 'Stick' - Watch Trailer 'Materialists' New Trailer: Dakota Johnson Has to Choose Between a Perfect Pedro Pascal and an Unconventional Chris Evans '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. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie The 55 Best LGBTQ Movies and TV Shows Streaming on Netflix Right Now
