Set during one intense day at a Judo World Championship in Tbilisi, Georgia (where it was secretly filmed), Tatami follows a rising Iranian athlete named Leila (Arienne Mandi) and her coach Maryam (Zar Amir Ebrahimi), who are intent on bringing home their country’s first gold medal. Just as Leila is nearing victory, a chilling ultimatum arrives from the Islamic Republic declaring she must fake an injury and lose to avoid facing an Israeli opponent, or she’ll be branded a traitor to her country. With her own freedom and her family’s safety on the line, Leila confronts an agonizing choice: follow her government’s orders or fight for her dream. Filmed during the protests in Iran in 2022, Tatami resonates as both a thrilling sports drama and a searing political statement on the resilience and bravery of Iranian women seeking self-determination.  

(Georgia, US, UK, Israel / 2023 / Directed by Zar Amir Ebrahimi & Guy Nattiv)
Unrated / 1 hr 45 min