Tatami
Kamera:
Todd MartinMusik:
Dascha DauenhauerBesetzung:
Arienne Mandi, Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Jaime Ray Newman, Nadine Marshall, Mehdi Bajestani, Lir Katz, Elham ErfaniInhalte(1)
Die junge und ehrgeizige iranische Judoka Leila (Arienne Mandi) reist gemeinsam mit ihrer Trainerin Maryam (Zar Amir) zu den Judo-Weltmeisterschaften nach Tiflis. Ihr größter Traum: die erste Goldmedaille für den Iran nach Hause zu bringen. Als sich im Verlauf des Wettkampfs herausstellt, dass sie auf eine Konkurrentin aus Israel treffen könnte, wird das Teheraner Regime nervös. Um die Schmach einer möglichen Niederlage zu verhindern, wird Leila ein Ultimatum gestellt: Sie soll eine Verletzung vortäuschen und aus dem Wettbewerb aussteigen. Sollte sie sich widersetzen und weiterkämpfen, würde sie ab sofort als Staatsverräterin betrachtet werden. Leila muss eine schwerwiegende Entscheidung treffen, die nicht nur sie selbst, sondern auch ihre Familie im Iran und ihre Trainerin betrifft, deren Freiheit und Sicherheit ebenfalls auf dem Spiel stehen. (Wild Bunch Germany)
(mehr)Kritiken (2)
An unexpected surprise and a very good film. The idea of black and white film from the Women's Judo World Championships sounds quite unattractive and bland at first glance, but I guarantee that by the 10th minute you'll be glued to your screen and biting your nails. The protagonist is an Iranian judoka who wants to fulfill her dream of winning a gold medal. After being unexpectedly successful, she starts getting threats from the government to pretend to lose immediately or she will be branded a traitor to the nation – she is in danger of meeting her rival from Israel. A lot of psychological pressure is also put on her trainer, but the protagonist refuses to agree to their rules, thus endangering her family as well. Excellent cinematography, solid performances, an uncomfortable and suffocating atmosphere that is solidly built up, the fights are surprisingly solidly, the dialogue is engaging and you are disgusted by the warped Islamic regime. Really good stuff 85%.
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If anyone still believes that sports and politics don't mix, they should drop that naive notion immediately — these two have always been intertwined and always will be. Tatami brings this to life through the story of an Iranian judoka who defies the absurd demands of the Islamic regime, refusing to comply at a huge personal cost. This inspiring tale of a strong woman and her courage stands out with its refined presentation — the choice of black-and-white cinematography and the 4:3 aspect ratio intensify the tension of a story mostly set in a single hall in Tbilisi during the Judo World Championships. The film’s intimate and focused narrative is elevated by dynamic camera work that gets under your skin, ramping up the tension. The brilliantly edited judo matches are another highlight. Altogether, this creates a deeply compelling experience that will stay with me for a long time.
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