(2023, Georgia, USA, 105')
Iran and Israel united for the first time behind the camera for an amazing reenactment of a real story. An all-female, striking story that follows the rhythm of the political thriller, plot twist after plot twist. Iranian Judoka Leila and her coach, Maryam, are working hard for the gold medal at the upcoming world judo championships. One day, their government warn them that Leila must lose her next match, feigning an injury. If she won’t, she’ll be put on trial for treason. Leila will have to weigh her ambition for victory, risking her family and her own life, and the oppression of tyranny.
Israeli director Guy Nattiv won an Oscar in 2019 with his animated short movie Skin, also the name of a feature film by Nattiv, which he presented at Berlin, Tribeca, and Toronto. His debut film, Strangers, passed at Sundance and Tribeca in 2008, and was nominated at the Oscars. His second film, The flood, won the Generations Prize at the 2012 Berlinale.
Iranian actress and director Zar Amir Ebrahimi has been living in France as a refugee since 2008. Amir Ebrahimi won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival last year for her performance in Holy Spider by Ali Abbasi and starred in Shadya by Noora Niasari, presented at Sundance this year.
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