As missile fly in the Middle East between Israel and Iran, two filmmakers, one from each country, are out with a politically charged sports drama they co-directed in a landmark collaboration.
Tatami, by Academy Award-winner Guy Nattiv (Golda. Skin) and Cannes Best Actress winner (for Holy Spider) Zar Amir Ebramini, who also stars, follows Leila (Adrienne Mandi), an Iranian judo athlete in political peril when her government tells her to fake an injury and withdraw from the world championships rather than face an Israeli rival in the final.
Inspired by the real life stories of female Iranian athletes now in exile like taekwondo champion Kimia Alizadeh, boxer Sadaf Khadem and skier Atefeh Ahmadi, Tatami was filmed in 2022 in the Georgian capital Tbilisi “when the world was a little more sane,” said Nattiv in a June 13 interview with the Times of Israel. “In this film, we speak judo, not hatred.” Nattiv, who is based in Los Angeles, has spoken out about Israel’s shift to the right. Ebrahimi lives in Paris.
Hostilities have been ongoing between Israel and Iran for two decades but escalated dramatically late last week when Israel launched an air campaign to neutralize Iran’s nuclear program, also hoping to weaken the unpopular regime politically. Iran retaliated. With the exchange now in its third day, Israel continued to hit more infrastructure targets and Iranian missiles killed at least 10 people.
The film from XYZ Films Releasing and Flawless opened to $16.2k in an exclusive run at at the IFC Center in New York. Adds Laemmle’s Royal in Los Angeles next weekend, expanding through July.
Tatami world premiered at Venice. Amir went on to win Best Actress and the film a Special Jury Prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival, as well as the Young Cineastes Award at the 2025 Palm Springs International Film Festival. It’s at 90% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes (20 reviews).
Other notable indies this weekend include Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme starring Benecio del Toro, still going strong in week 3 with $3 million on 1,731 screens and a no. 8 spot at the domestic box office. The Focus Features film has a cume of $12.8 million.
Neon’s The Life Of Chuck, Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of the Stephen King novella, saw $2.14 million in a major week 2 expansion to 1,072 screens. The film, which follows the mystical and spiritual journey of small-town accountant Charles “Chuck” Krantz (Tom Hiddleston) as the end of the world approaches. At no. 9.
Meanwhile, GKids’ animated DAN DA DAN: Evil Eye clocked a nice $673k on 820 screens in week 2 for a cume $5.1 million. feature-length program from the previous and upcoming seasons of the popular anime series DAN DA DAN and interviews with directors Fuga Yamashiro and Abel Góngora.
New release The Unholy Trinity from Roadside Attractions opened to $559.6k on 771 screens. The western stars Samuel L. Jackson and Pierce Brosnan.
Sony Pictures Classics’ Jane Austen Wrecked My Life saw $57.2k as it winds down to 92 screens in week 4 (last week 291) for a cume of $1.6 million.
Noting A24’s hefty footprint with The Materialists opening to $12 million and a no. 3 spot (2,844 screes); and holdovers Bring Her Back with a cume of $17.6 million (1,250 screens) million, and Friendship with a $15.7 million cume (355 screens).
The post ‘Tatami’, Sports Drama With Israeli And Iranian Co-Directors, Opens In New York As Conflict Escalates Between Two Countries — Specialty Box Office appeared first on Deadline.
