While it’s a remarkable achievement that “Tatami”—a film co-directed by an Iranian (Zar Amir Ebrahimi) and an Israeli (Guy Nattiv) filmmaker—was made and released amid global tensions, don’t let that overshadow the fact that it’s also a riveting drama. It’s a masterful sports film that pits an underdog—a woman with an indomitable spirit—against an oppressive government in a way that has thrilled audiences since Rocky.
Here’s the setup: Leila (played by Arianne Mandi) is a world-class Iranian judoka competing at the Judo World Championships, where she’s dominating her matches. A gold medal—which would be Iran’s first ever—seems within her reach. But things take a turn: as she advances, her government orders her, through her coach (also played by Amir Ebrahimi), to forfeit her next match by faking an injury. The reason? She’s scheduled to compete against an Israeli athlete, and Iran does not recognize Israel.
Unsurprisingly, Leila has other plans—to say more would venture into spoiler territory. The ensuing drama is both tense and beautiful, shot in a sumptuous black and white reminiscent of Scorsese’s Raging Bull. You don’t need to be steeped in geopolitics to appreciate this film; it taps into something universal—the conflict between conforming to authority and following your own convictions, especially when every part of you is screaming no. The fact that Leila has dedicated her life to this moment, only to have strangers try to take it away for reasons she may not even care about, only intensifies the story’s power.
“Tatami” was released in the United States in June, during a period of escalated hostilities between Israel and Gaza. This timing made the film—which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2023—both strikingly relevant and challenging to promote. When I saw it on opening night at the IFC Center in Manhattan, the audience was completely captivated. Afterward, a few of us gathered around producer Adi Ezroni, who began to discuss the film’s complicated production and its significance. (An earlier public discussion had been canceled due to security concerns.) When IFC Center security quickly ended our impromptu talk, we moved to a nearby cocktail bar. Soon after, Arianne Mandi—who was in town filming another project—joined us, turning an already mesmerizing screening into one of those unforgettable, only-in-New-York nights out.
I can’t promise you’ll have the same unique experience, but I can guarantee that, regardless of your political views, this film has a thrilling magic all its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About The Tatami Galaxy
Beginner General Questions
Q What is The Tatami Galaxy even about
A Its a surreal fastpaced anime about a college student who joins different clubs each episode in search of a rosecolored campus life only to face disappointment He then gets a chance to relive his two years of college over and over trying to get it right
Q Is it worth watching Why is everyone talking about it
A Absolutely Its praised for its unique visual style intelligent storytelling about regret and choice witty dialogue and a powerful satisfying conclusion that ties everything together beautifully
Q How many episodes is it Is it a big commitment
A Its only 11 episodes so its a very manageable watch The story is dense but the short length makes it easy to finish
Q The subtitles go by really fast Is that normal
A Yes The dialogue is famously rapidfire especially in the first episode Dont worry if you miss a line or two the core ideas and emotions are reinforced visually and through repetition Its part of the experience
Q I watched the first episode and was confused Should I continue
A Definitely The first episode throws you into the deep end The structure becomes clearer by the second or third episode and the payoff for sticking with it is immense
Q Is it sad funny or both
A Its both It has sharp absurdist humor about college life and social anxiety but its ultimately a profound and sometimes melancholic look at loneliness friendship and the paths we dont take
Advanced Thematic Questions
Q Whats the deal with the art style It looks so different
A The show uses a distinctive textured visual style with exaggerated perspectives symbolic color palettes and montages that feel like a collage This reflects the protagonists chaotic mental state and the repetitive mazelike nature of his life
Q What is the main message or theme of the series
A At its core its about accepting your past choices and realizing that the ideal perfect life you imagine is often an illusion Happiness