Tatami

Lejla and her coach Marjam are taking part in the World Judo Championships, where they have a great chance of winning Iran’s first gold medal. However, everything begins to fall apart the moment the Iranian Islamic regime starts interfering in sport. They force Lejla to withdraw from the competition, leaving her facing the most important decision of her life.

This sports drama unfolds in an isolated world, a labyrinth of dimly lit corridors, offices and gyms. These claustrophobic spaces only serve to emphasise the oppressive nature of the situations in which Lejla and Marjam find themselves. Close-up shots of the matches vividly capture Lejla’s tenacious struggle on the court and her moral battle against a repressive political regime.

Georgia, USA | 2023 | 103 minutes Directed by: Guy Nattiv, Zar Amir Ebrahimi

Screened as part of the ‘Promítej i ty!’ project