Title: "Tatami: A Groundbreaking Sports Drama Amidst Middle East Tensions"
As tensions rise in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and Iran, two visionary filmmakers from these nations have joined forces to present a politically charged sports drama titled Tatami. This landmark collaboration is co-directed by Academy Award-winner Guy Nattiv (known for Golda and Skin) and Cannes Best Actress winner Zar Amir Ebrahimi, who also stars in the film.
Tatami tells the gripping story of Leila (played by Adrienne Mandi), an Iranian judo athlete facing a moral dilemma when her government pressures her to fake an injury and withdraw from the world championships to avoid competing against an Israeli rival in the finals. The film is inspired by the real-life experiences of female Iranian athletes in exile, such as taekwondo champion Kimia Alizadeh and boxer Sadaf Khadem.
Filmed in Tbilisi, Georgia, in 2022, during a period of relative calm, Nattiv emphasized in a June 13 interview with the Times of Israel, “In this film, we speak judo, not hatred.” While Nattiv resides in Los Angeles, Ebrahimi currently lives in Paris. The backdrop of the film reflects the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran, which have intensified recently following Israel’s air campaign aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Despite the geopolitical tensions, Tatami has made a significant impact on the film festival circuit, premiering at the Venice Film Festival, where Ebrahimi won Best Actress, and the film received a Special Jury Prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival. It also secured the Young Cineastes Award at the 2025 Palm Springs International Film Festival. Currently, Tatami holds an impressive 90% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 20 reviews.
The film opened to $16,200 in an exclusive run at the IFC Center in New York and is set to expand to Laemmle’s Royal in Los Angeles next weekend, continuing its rollout through July.
In addition to Tatami, other notable indie films are making waves at the box office. Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, starring Benicio del Toro, has maintained strong performance in its third week, grossing $3 million across 1,731 screens, bringing its cumulative total to $12.8 million.
Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novella, The Life Of Chuck, saw a major expansion in its second week, earning $2.14 million on 1,072 screens, while GKids’ animated feature DAN DA DAN: Evil Eye garnered $673,000 in its second week, with a total of $5.1 million.
New releases, such as The Unholy Trinity, featuring Samuel L. Jackson and Pierce Brosnan, opened to $559,600 on 771 screens. Meanwhile, Sony Pictures Classics’ Jane Austen Wrecked My Life has accumulated $1.6 million over its four-week run.
In summary, Tatami stands out not only for its compelling narrative but also for its significant cultural dialogue amidst challenging political landscapes. This film is a must-see for those interested in sports, human rights, and the power of storytelling to transcend borders.
