2023-09-04 11:49:06
This film, which was screened in the parallel “Horizons” category, tells the story of the struggle of an Iranian judoka named Leila and her coach, Maryam, who, during the World Championships in Georgia, refuse to comply with their government’s request to withdraw from the tournament in order to avoid confronting an Israeli player.
“I learned at school that Israel does not exist,” said Zar Amir, 42, whose real name is Zahra Amir Ibrahimi, the co-director of the work in which she also plays the role of Maryam.
“Therefore, we are not allowed to work together, meet, befriend or compete with this imaginary enemy,” she added.
Zar Amir, born in Tehran, lives in exile in France, so she is “free to choose these topics,” which she bears “responsibility” for narrating, according to her.
“The film will also carry a political dimension, but that is not my problem,” she added.
Zar Amir won the Best Actress Award at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival for her role as a feisty journalist in the thriller “Holy Spider” about a serial killer of sex workers in the Iranian city of Mashhad.
She also said, “In Iran, filmmakers cannot actually tell the truth, they can address (these topics) but it will always show a half-truth.”
Tehran has previously detained directors, accusing them of propaganda against the regime, such as Jaafar Panahi and Muhammad Rasoul Af.
The director, Saeed Rostaei, and the producer of his film “The Laila Brothers” were sentenced to six months in prison for showing the film (which is banned in Iran) at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022 “without permission.” The latter denounced “a serious attack on the freedom of expression of Iranian artists, filmmakers, producers and technicians.”
“continuous revolution”
The Israeli filmmaker and co-director of “Tatami” Guy Nativ, the director of “Skin” (2018) and “Golda” (2023), in which actress Helen Mirren plays the role of Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, does not hesitate to draw a bold comparison between Iran and Israel.
“In what looks like a miracle, what can be described as a revolution is taking place in Israel and Iran. In Israel, the revolution is against what Benjamin Netanyahu is doing for democracy,” he told AFP, sitting next to Zar Amir near the cinema palace on Lido Island.
“We are two countries that are somewhat similar and in some ways go through the same process,” he added.
For her part, the Iranian actress said, along with him, that she is “overwhelmed with hope and positivity” about the protest movement that began a year ago after the death of the young woman, Mahsa Amini (22 years), after she was arrested by the morality police in Tehran for not complying with the strict dress code in the Islamic Republic.
“I believe that women are working to change the situation and that there is no turning back. I am moved by their courage, especially the courage of the younger generations,” she added.
“It’s an ongoing revolution (…) I love the idea that we can finally choose what we’re going to wear and how we’re going to act,” she added.
She also said, “Men are now supporting women, and this is new.”
The movie “Tatami”, which will be shown in 2024, has been distributed in several European countries.
Director Guy Nattiv noted that the film sparked many responses in Israel because “people see this collaboration as a revolutionary act.”
“I hope that this will pave the way for further cooperation between the Israelis and the Iranians in other fields, such as music,” he added.
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