Tatami

Tatami | Saturday, October 17, 7:00 PM

| 2025| 103 min. | Georgia/Iran/Israel| Farsi/English

Discussion Leader: Professor Stephen Berk

Tatami resonates as both a thrilling sports drama and a searing political statement on the resilience and bravery of Iranian women seeking self-determination.

Filmed during the protests in Iran in 2022 and set during one intense day at a World Championship event in Tbilisi, Georgia (where it was secretly filmed), the film follows rising Iranian judo fighter Leila and her coach Maryam, who travel to the championship intent on bringing home Iran’s first gold medal. Just as Leila is nearing victory, a chilling ultimatum arrives from the Islamic Republic declaring she must fake an injury and lose to avoid facing an Israeli opponent or be branded a traitor to her country. With her freedom and her family’s safety on the line, Leila confronts an agonizing choice: follow her government’s orders, or fight for her dream. Tatami is notable for being the first film ever co-directed by an Israeli and an Iranian filmmaker: DireGuy Nattiv & Amir Ebrahimi.

Single price tickets are $10 for JCC members and $15 for guests at the door and $8 for members and $13 for non-members with prepayment. Refreshments are being provided by 518 Kosher and the SJCC.

Register here!