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Uta Abe takes on the challenge of narrating the trailer for the movie “TATAMI” for the first time.
Uta Abe, a gold medalist in the women’s 52kg judo category at the Tokyo Olympics, starred in the much-talked-about movie “TATAMI,” which won two awards at the 36th (2023) Tokyo International Film Festival: the Special Jury Award and the Best Actress Award. It was announced on December 19th that he will be taking on the challenge of narrating the Japanese version of the trailer for the movie directed by Nattiv and Zahra Amir (to be released on February 28, 2025) for the first time. Abe said, “I watched it nervously, wondering what I would do.I hope you can experience it for yourself at the movie theater.”
Abe commented, “I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to narrate a wonderful movie that I’m so deeply invested in.” Regarding the film, he said, “I was surprised to learn that events that we, as Japanese athletes, would never have thought of happened as a true story.The word “fight” itself is common, but the motives and reasons for fighting… The meaning was completely different, and it made me think deeply about my own life in judo.”
He continued, “The image of the main character sticking to his will and fighting for freedom, even if it meant sacrificing his family, left an impression on me.In particular, I was deeply impressed by the determination and strong feelings with which he faced the match.” I empathized with it,” he said, comparing his thoughts with his own experience.
This work is the first in film history to collaborate with two directors with Israeli and Iranian roots, and is based on a true story that actually happened at the World Judo Championships at Nippon Budokan in 2019. The film depicts the unyielding “fight” of athletes against the backdrop of political interference in the sports world, the complex situation in the Middle East, and the oppression of women in Iranian society.
The trailer shows the nervous expression of the main character, Leila, a representative from Iran, who is competing in the Women’s World Judo Championships being held in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. They make good progress in the competition, but just as they are about to win the gold medal, the government orders them to withdraw in order to avoid competing against their enemy, Israel. With danger to herself and her hostage family, Leila must make the biggest decision of her life: fake injury and submit to the government, or continue fighting for freedom and dignity.
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