Tatami

AroView: Sport, politics and feminism come to a fiery head in this gripping drama centred on an Iranian women’s judo competitor who comes under extreme political pressure to quit the world champs.

It’s a striking black-and-white nail-biter that packs the thrill of competitive sporting action while, off the mat, a tense battle of principles escalates between a fearless athlete (a superb Arienne Mandi) and her more pragmatic coach (Zar Amir Ebrahimi, ‘Holy Spider’) at the mercy of the Islamic Republic regime. The film is a dignified scream for human rights against oppression, and the first film to be co-directed by an Iranian (Zar Amir) and an Israeli (Guy Nattiv, ‘Golda’).

★★★★★ “A powerful, empowering and incredibly poignant story about two women with enormous courage in the face of intimidation, and their desire for the choice “to be free”.” ~Claire Fulton, Loud & Clear

“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.” ~Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter