Movie Review: ‘Tatami’

Leila (Adrienne Mandi) has more than one reason for traveling from her home in Iran to Georgia. The main one is to return home with Iran’s first-ever World Women’s Judo championship gold. She is traveling with a former judo competitor friend and coach, Maryam (Zar Ebrahimi). Leila also wants to become the world female Judo champion, accomplished by defeating the present Israeli title holder.

She has the unwavering support of her husband, small son and parents. Iran would also like the win. Her final reason is to prove to herself that she can.

Leila wins the first rounds advancing her toward the championship match. Nearing this pivotal match she is confronted by a group of police/thugs from the Islamic Republic of Iran who insist she fake an injury and withdraw from the competition. Iran doesn’t want her to risk losing the match to Israel.

Maryam’s career ended when she was also faced with such a demand and acquiesced. While encouraging Leila to quit she finally reveals the crushing burden of faking the injury she’s carried since her withdrawal years ago.

The suspicious presence of Iranian police thugs comes to the attention of the chairman of the competition, Jean Abriel (Nadine Marshall) and her deputy, Stacey Travis (Jamie Newman).

Jean and Stacey question Leila about these men lurking around the sports stadium. Leila insists there is nothing to be concerned with, they’re there for her protection. The thugs continue to harass both Maryam and Leila, to no avail.

Eventually, they do win Maryam over – but not Leila. Heightening their pressure, the police arrest and jail Leila’s father leaving her mother alone and vulnerable. Hearing of this escalation Leila telephones her husband asking him and their son to disappear. Go into hiding, their lives are at stake.

The matches continue and, in spite of Maryam abandoning her as her coach, Leila wins them all. Alone, Leila continues to train, exercise and prevail. More threatening thugs arrive from Iran, which frightens Leila enough to finally seek help from Jean and Stacey.

Sitting in the chairman’s office Leila finally reveals the pressure she is under to fake an injury, that her father is imprisoned and her husband and son are in hiding. Jean and Stacey heighten security surrounding the competitors and alert the local police. It has now become a conflict between Georgia and Iran.

The stadium atmosphere becomes so tense that other competitors sense something is very wrong. Both Leila and the thugs move into high gear as there are only a few remaining matches before the final competition. The remaining match is finally over. Leila can return home to Iran and her reunited loving family

Directed by Zar Ebrahimi (Credits: Holy Spider, Skin) Tatami runs 104 minutes and is a “Should See” for a gripping story of a committed person with aspirations to achieve something significant for her country, family and self. She never relents in her drive to achieve. Award winner at the 80th Venice Film Festival.