The first feature film co-directed by Iranian and Israeli filmmakers Guy Nattiv and Zar Amir, TATAMI follows Leila, an Iranian judo athlete who is put in political danger when her government tells her to fake an injury and withdraw from the world championships — rather than face an Israeli rival in the final. Leila finds herself facing a life-or-death decision that could put the lives of her, her coach (an ex-competitor herself) and her family in danger. In a fight for freedom and dignity, what is she willing to give up?
“At a moment of war and deep division in the Middle East, a film co-directed by an Israeli and an Iranian is already a victory in and of itself. But the gripping sports drama TATAMI… is more than just a promising collaboration between two filmmakers hailing from opposing sides of the conflict…. Vibrantly helmed and performed, with co-director and Cannes best actress winner Zar Amir Ebrahimi (HOLY SPIDER) playing one of the leads, the film is a win both behind and in front of the camera.” —Jordan Mintzer, Hollywood Reporter “Goes all in with a lean and tense narrative that is part sport movie, part political thriller — with both parts equally neatly realized…. Despite its urgent political engagement, TATAMI never forgets to be a gripping watch.” —Catherine Bray, Variety “A quietly impressive film. With time, it might well be considered a masterpiece. TATAMI monochrome cinematography perhaps unconsciously builds on the political conflicts within the story…. At its heart, TATAMI is about the willingness to stand up to coercion no matter the cost, to break cyclical patterns of control in which dreams have been and continue to be savagely broken.” —Paul Risker, Pop Matters
