The first Israeli-Iranian film.
Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Guy Nativ (Photo: Chris DeWitt, Ziv Amar, courtesy of Keshet Studios)
Oscar-winning Israeli director Guy Nativ and Iranian actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi will jointly direct a film dealing with tensions between the two countries - it was learned today (Tuesday).
This is the first time that Israeli and Iranian directors have created a film together since the revolution in Iran.
The film, tentatively titled "Judo", focuses on the pressures placed on an Iranian athlete, Leila, following a decisive battle at the World Championships, where she is scheduled to compete against an athlete from Israel.
The authorities and her trainer pressure her to fake an injury, and Layla finds herself forced to make difficult decisions about her future.
Zar Amir Ebrahimi, who starred this year in the acclaimed Danish film "Holy Spider" and even won the best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival, will also star in the lead role.
The film was also written by an Iranian screenwriter, Elm Arfani.
"It is a huge honor to collaborate with these true creative forces of nature - Zar, Ariane [Mandy, who also stars in the film] and Alchem, and give life to this important story," Nativ said.
"It's more than a movie, for all of us. It's a creative statement to the world, while thousands of innocent Iranian citizens are paying for freedom with their lives."
Zar Amir Ebrahimi added that "the story told in this film is the story of too many Iranian athletes who lost the opportunities of their lives, and sometimes had to leave their country and their loved ones due to the conflict between the systems and governments. This artistic and cinematic collaboration with Guy is a tribute to them."
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