Israeli-Iranian Co-Production Tatami Debuts at Venice Film Festival, Portraying Forbidden Sports Rivalry
In a groundbreaking development, the Venice International Film Festival premiered Tatami, a film hailed as the first-ever co-production between Israeli and Iranian filmmakers. The movie received a standing ovation at the prestigious event and centers around the captivating story of a female Iranian judoka champion. This champion is faced with an extraordinary decision when she is ordered to feign an injury in order to avoid competing against an Israeli opponent at a judo championship.
Loosely inspired by the real-life incident involving Iranian athlete Saeid Mollaei in 2019, where he was instructed to throw matches at the World Judo Championships to evade a confrontation with Israeli competitor Sagi Muki, Tatami delves into the world of sports rivalry tainted by political tensions. It sheds light on the consequences faced by athletes when they become pawns in a geopolitical struggle.
Co-directed by Guy Nattiv, an Oscar-winning Israeli filmmaker known for his remarkable work on Golda, and Zar Amir Ebrahimi, an Iranian talent who also stars in the film, Tatami was filmed in Tbilisi, Georgia. This location was chosen due to its accessibility to Iranian travelers. The project was undertaken with utmost secrecy due to the potential repercussions from Iran. As the film’s plot underscores, Iran denies recognition of Israel’s existence and prohibits its athletes from engaging in competition with Israelis.
According to reports from The Hollywood Reporter, the film’s title and storyline were shrouded in secrecy during the casting phase. It wasn’t until February 2023 that the film was officially announced to the public under the title Untitled Judo. Remarkably, the production team successfully navigated their way through the covert production process, fully aware of the risks it entailed.
Tatami draws additional inspiration from a tragic incident involving 22-year-old Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, who was allegedly subjected to police brutality in Tehran due to Iran’s mandatory hijab policy. Her untimely death sparked an unprecedented protest movement across the country.
The directors of Tatami found themselves driven by an urgent need to tell this story, feeling that they were living in a revolutionary period during the movie’s creation. Amir Ebrahimi, who emerged as the best actress at the Cannes Film Festival in the previous year, fled Iran in 2008 out of fear of imprisonment stemming from a sex tape scandal. Upon completing the filming process, she embarked on a secret trip to Israel to contribute to the editing phase.
The emotional significance of this trip to Israel was not lost on Nattiv, who highlighted the transformative experience shared with Amir Ebrahimi. He recounted how she had viewed Israel with hostility during her childhood in Iran, and now they were sharing moments, drinking coffee together like long-lost friends.
Amir Ebrahimi expressed her sense of feeling at home in Israel and the undeniable connection they shared. She described it as a profound experience, emphasizing the commonality between people despite political differences.
The debut of Tatami at the Venice International Film Festival marks a significant milestone in Israeli-Iranian cultural exchange in the realm of cinema. It serves as a reminder that art possesses the power to transcend political divisions and showcase our shared humanity. The film sheds light on the struggles faced by athletes who find themselves entangled in the geopolitical undertones of their respective nations. With its gripping narrative and courageous production, Tatami opens up avenues for dialogue and bridges that stretch beyond barriers of nationality and ideology.
