We continue our proposal of films capable of building peace, fighting courageously for the truth, with the support of hope.
In the dramatic days of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the film Tatami – A woman fighting for freedom, presented at the 2023 Venice Film Festival and co-directed by the Iranian director-actress Zahra Amir and the Israeli director Guy Nattiv, is of great relevance and teaching .
Beyond the true story, which inspired the feature film, a question arises spontaneously: how is it possible that two citizens of such different and conflicting countries (we know that Iran supports Hamas against Israel in the ongoing war after the tragic attack of 7 October) can collaborate in the artistic field, demonstrating that enmity cannot and must not be the last word on the relationship between two peoples? The answer comes to us from the two filmmakers themselves.
“Over the past decades, the Iranian Government has done everything in its power to prevent Iranians and Israelis from meeting at international events, without taking into account the reality of people’s true feelings. Despite this, we found a way to do it.” Zahra and Guy joined forces two hours away from Tel Aviv and Tehran, working together in Tbilisi, Georgia, where they set the story of suffering and freedom of the courageous Iranian athletes. The story takes place during the world women’s judo championships, in an unspecified year in the contemporary age and the title of the film, Tatami, refers to the platform on which the fights take place (the Japanese term literally means mat). But even those who don’t particularly love this sport will not be disappointed by the story of the promising and determined Iranian judoka Leila Hosseini, shot like a thriller with a fast pace and intense faces in the foreground, in a clear and at the same time disturbing black and white.
Why shouldn’t the young athlete in extraordinary shape, who beats her opponents one after the other thanks to her concentration and the support of her husband, her little son and friends who follow her enthusiastically from home, win? The answer is in a strange phone call that comes from the Iranian judo federation to its tenacious coach Maryam (masterfully played by the director Zahra Amir herself). The regime makes it known that it refuses to accept the possibility that Leila, in the final, will have to share the tatami with the Israeli Shani Lavi, also a possible candidate for the gold medal. Leila’s coach and friend doesn’t want to give in to pressure from the Islamic Republic, but she knows from experience that disobedience in Iran comes at a high price. She therefore tries to dissuade her compatriot from continuing the global challenge, but she does not stop and continues to reap successes.
It is clear that Leila has no intention of withdrawing from the competition at all, much less faking an injury to abandon the World Cup, as the ruthless regime suggests, in spite of the sporting spirit. The champion certainly cannot forget her sacrifices and absolute commitment, accompanied by a deep passion and great technique, which marked the years of her preparation for the most important event of her career. And she understands very well that she is being subjected to a blackmail that overturns the sporting world and its values of loyalty and free discussion, wrapping it in the inexorable meshes of ideological and political strategies.
The physical struggle thus transforms into a political struggle for the regime and erases all personal aspirations, not only in judo, also involving the athlete’s family and closest loved ones in the threat. Leila doesn’t want to give in, but what will happen to her, her husband and her child if she doesn’t give in? Between the training gyms and the darkness of the bathrooms and corridors, the whole drama of the young woman’s choice unfolds with implacable cruelty, as she must make her difficult and painful decision. Due to the tension she repeatedly bangs her head against a mirror, causing a wound on her forehead. But she continues fighting protected by her black hijab, which however she will have to remove with unprecedented courage to be treated during a competition, when her blood will drip onto her beautiful, tense and concentrated face, obscuring her vision.
Leila will continue the race with her head uncovered, just like the fearless demonstrators of her country’s marches, who in recent years have dared to make that gesture in the name of freedom. In reality, the audience at Leila’s competitions is never seen, because we are the spectators of her hard-fought and winning matches, involved in cheering for her which becomes a metaphor for our profound sharing in her fight for freedom, which is the same of all those who rebel against the impositions of the Islamic Republic.
The ending of Tatami is not obvious, thus respecting the rules of a good thriller. She reveals to us an athlete who, as well as being a sportswoman, is a wife and mother, and it is precisely from these roles that she draws her strength.
The two artists, the Israeli and the Iranian, who wanted to shoot this film together, thanks to cinema were able to share feelings, suffering and aspirations, even though they both live far from their country, she in exile in Paris, while he for choice in America. They know well that “too many artists and athletes have been forced to leave their homeland due to conflicts between systems and governments”. Therefore their message wants to be precisely this: “Humanity and brotherhood always win”. Zahra Amir and Guy Nattiv wish, in fact, that their cinematic and artistic collaboration “can be a tribute to those artists and those athletes and to all the people who fight to look beyond the frenzy of blinding hatred and mutual destruction and who, despite all the obstacles, build a future together.” The only sensible invitation in a world today on the brink of the abyss.
— — — —
We need your contribution to continue providing you with quality, independent information.
SUPPORT US. DONATE NOW BY CLICKING HERE
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2024-06-27 04:29:51
#TATAMI #film #hymn #freedom #brotherhood
