‘Tatami‘ slams geopolitics onto the mat in a gripping Iranian-Israeli crossover, where one woman’s fight to compete on the world stage becomes a powerful act of defiance and perseverance.
In the searing political thriller ‘Tatami‘, Arienne Mandi (who I happily referred to as Arayeen, meaning Lioness in Farsi) brings raw intensity and quiet courage to the role of Leila, an Iranian judo champion faced with an impossible choice. Ordered by her government to feign injury and forfeit a world championship match to avoid competing against an Israeli opponent, Leila is thrust into a high-stakes moral dilemma where the price of resistance could be her life—and the lives of those around her.
Directed by Iranian actress and filmmaker Zar Amir Ebrahimi (‘Holy Spider‘) and Israeli director Guy Nattiv (‘Skin‘), ‘Tatami‘ is more than a gripping, real-time sports drama; it’s a landmark in cinema history. Shot under a veil of secrecy in Tbilisi, Georgia, and created by an Iranian-Israeli filmmaking team—the first of its kind—the film stands as a daring act of defiance, solidarity, and artistic unity in the face of censorship and ideological control.
As someone personally familiar with the real-life judo competition that helped inspire this film, I was particularly struck by how Tatami mirrors the true stories of Iranian athletes such as Sadaf Khadem, Kimia Alizadeh, and Elnaz Rekabi—women who have risked their safety, careers, and citizenship to stand up for their beliefs and compete freely on the world stage. These are not just athletes, but symbols of resistance and dignity, navigating a world where sport is anything but separate from politics.
In an ideal world, sport should transcend political divisions. It should be a space where human achievement, mutual respect, and fair competition prevail. ‘Tatami‘ reminds us what happens when that boundary is erased, and athletes are forced to carry the burden of political agendas.
What is most beautiful about the grappling scenes is that Mandi trained with Olympic-level judokas and performed her own fight scenes, lending an added layer of physical authenticity to her portrayal. In this conversation, we discuss the emotional and physical demands of the role, the global relevance of ‘Tatami‘, and the film’s urgent message about autonomy, solidarity, and the price of standing up for what’s right—even when the stakes are everything.
‘Tatami‘ opens in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Royal June 20 & in Select Theaters Nationwide June 27, 2025.
