How addictive is Tatami! Leaving aside the artificial subtitle of the Italian distribution, which tries to exploit the female wave of There's Still Tomorrow, Tatami is a film about a sport, Judo, little known in Italy, but which the two directors know how to make compelling. In reality, the fact that the protagonist is a woman is of little importance: the story is inspired by events that saw both men and women as protagonists in various sporting competitions.

It tells the story of an entire day in which the world Judo tournament takes place, condensed into almost two hours of film by two directors who are not afraid to use all the clichés of sports films (the initial difficulties of weight, the almost certain defeat before the next round...) to build a crescendo of uncertainty and tension.

Uncertainty grows with the inclusion of political affairs. The directors wisely tighten their grip around the protagonist and the risk of suffocation on the Tatami becomes a risk of lack of air due to the tension. It becomes difficult for the viewer to stay still in their seat thanks to an increasingly compelling script. For this reason some simplification can be forgiven.

The political side of the production matters little (Israeli/Iranian joint direction), except to make a story more credible which in the eyes of a Westerner is absurd, but which well depicts the madness of theocratic governments, in the face of a Decubertenian 'the important thing is to participate'.

Excellent direction, more than good screenplay, two protagonists who put their soul (it is no coincidence that one of the two is the co-director) and a veil that falls as a sign of hope. Worth seeing.