In Guy Nattiv and Zar Amir Ebrahimi’s Tatami, Iranian judo champion Leila (Arienne Mandi) is in the middle of a competition in Tbilisi, Georgia when she’s informed that she must fake an injury to forfeit in order to avoid potentially facing an Israeli opponent. Determined to still compete, Leila pushes to stay in the game, facing pressure from her coach Maryam (Amir Ebrahimi) as both are reminded by the Iranian regime of the consequences of not doing as they’re told.
Awards Buzz spoke with Mandi about the appeal of this role and the physical preparation required for both playing the part and filming compelling scenes. Watch the video above to hear about the experience of working with an Israeli and an Iranian director and how that enhanced the film.
Tatami opens in New York City on Friday, June 13th.
