Covert Israeli-Iranian Film: A Suspicion-Avoiding Masterpiece
The first co-directed film by Iranian and Israeli filmmakers, "Tatami," had to be shot undercover in Georgia to avoid interference from Tehran. The tense thriller, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, follows an Iranian judoka champion who is ordered to fake an injury to avoid competing against an Israeli. The directors stayed in separate hotels, spoke English, and kept the production secret due to the politically charged nature of the film. The movie explores the claustrophobic world these women live in and their desire for freedom. Iranian actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi, who stars in the film, fled Iran in 2008 and had to carefully consider the potential consequences before accepting the role.