Victoria Fox's Blog, page 81

Former Rep. George Santos is expected to plead guilty to campaign fraud

Former GOP Rep. George Santos is expected to plead guilty Monday to multiple charges related to campaign finance fraud, less than a month after his trial was set to begin, two sources familiar with the matter tell NBC News.

The disgraced former lawmaker faces a 23-count superseding indictment in the Eastern District of New York, including charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and making materially false statements to the Federal Election Commission.

The superseding indictment is in addition to the 13 federal indictments Santos faced in May 2023 on charges of bank fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds.

Santos had previously pleaded not guilty to all charges.

An attorney for Santos did not respond to NBC News’ requests for comment.

Negotiations on the plea agreement took place already at the end of last year, months after Santos was indicted and after the September 2024 trial date had already been set.

Santos told a CBS New York reporter at the time that the plea deal “was obviously not off the table at this point.”

A plea hearing is scheduled for Monday at 3 p.m. in federal court. The expected plea was first reported by Talking Points Memo.

An FBI spokeswoman and a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York declined to comment to NBC News.

Santos was elected in 2022 when he flipped the congressional seat of New York’s Long Island from Democrats to Republicans, helping solidify a narrow GOP majority in the House.

Just a few weeks before his term began, The New York Times revealed that Santos had lied or embellished certain parts of his resume and personal history.

In December 2023, more than two-thirds of Santos’ House colleagues voted to expel him from Congress, officially removing him from his congressional seat.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com

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The end of the golden age of apartment owners? Expert announces changes [ANALIZA]

Did it all start with a pandemic?

Yes, in 2020 the real estate market was in a dynamic phase, demand was growing until the lockdown suddenly silenced customer interest and supply. In fact, it was not a lull, but a blow against the wall: the market was gaining momentum and suddenly we had two quarters of freezing. Demand only returned in 2021. The reason? The lowest interest rates in history, which resulted in sales the market had not seen for a long time. This continued throughout 2021, but not only did inflation start to rise, but also war suddenly broke out in Ukraine.

And the market hit the wall again?

The news about the war – as well as the lockdown – was a shock for buyers. The survey we conducted among a group of buyers using the Obido portal showed that people interested in buying an apartment had given up on their intention. The situation in the rental market also contributed, and it is worth remembering that these markets are interconnected. Many apartments for rent quickly disappeared. Yes, some of them were rented to Ukrainians, but some were made available to them for free. In large cities, the supply of apartments for rent fell by 70 percent! Small and cheaper apartments in particular were sucked out of the market. And when they returned to the market, they were offered at a higher price.

But that was not the end. In 2022, the Polish Financial Supervision Authority, concerned about borrowers and thinking about what will happen to people who, in the euphoria of buying an apartment, forget that the cost of servicing a loan may increase as inflation rises, ordered banks to increase the buffer when calculating credit quality by 2.5 to 5 percentage points. So we had high interest rates, high inflation and a high buffer.

Then came more turbulence: government subsidies, that is, subsidies for the purchase of the first apartment, freed up the apartment market and drove up prices.

In December 2022, Minister Waldemar Buda announced Crédito Seguro 2%. This announcement was initially believed by those who know the market – investors and swimmers. Already in January 2023, we saw very high reserves from a group that knew that the arrival of the stimulant to a dry market would result in greater demand and higher prices.

In addition, at the end of February, the Polish Financial Supervision Authority reduced the buffer to 2.5. Another group decided to buy an apartment: those who have not yet managed to get a mortgage loan. Banks began to calculate creditworthiness differently, which resulted in large sales in April and May 2023, and the program came into effect in July.

What awaits buyers today?

At the end of 2023, the government announced the continuation of subsidies for the purchase of an apartment, i.e. the #naStart loan. Developers introduced new conditions into the offer, believing that this promise would be fulfilled. Although the supply of apartments began to grow, demand turned into waiting for a new program. At the end of June, we saw a stabilization of prices in the primary and secondary markets. Today, buyers can choose from a much wider range. Credit Insurance 2% meant that in the third quarter of 2023 the supply in the seven largest markets remained below 34 thousand apartments, at the end of June there were already 51 thousand.

This means that, unlike the situation a year ago, we can buy without worrying that someone will soon steal the apartment from under our noses or that the price will suddenly rise.

Yes, the apartment stays with the developer longer. But there is one more important thing. In the development market in the 7 largest cities, the total price of an average apartment has been stagnant for at least 4-5 months, while the average prices per square meter are rising.

Why is this happening?

Because since the beginning of the year, the apartments introduced to the market by developers have been, on average, several metres smaller than those offered the previous year. This means that there is a simultaneous stabilisation of the total price and an increase in the price per square metre.

According to Expander and Rentier.io, there are noticeable reductions in the market: in June, prices fell in 10 out of 17 cities surveyed. Most of all in Toruń (-7.5%), Gdańsk (-3.1%), Rzeszów (-3.1%), Łódź (-2%).

In smaller markets, price fluctuations can come from a small number of homes. Furthermore, these markets are often operated mainly by local developers. Smaller ones can offer somewhat cheaper apartment prices. A smaller company means a smaller organisational structure, a smaller city means cheaper land. These are advantages, but there are also risks. Smaller development companies often mean less capital and therefore less freedom when it comes to completing the construction of an investment and at the same time securing land for subsequent projects. When people do not buy apartments at an early stage of the project, liquidity problems arise, which is why small investors are more willing to give discounts. This is where, among other things, the price reductions we observed in June came from.

Will the next few months be similar?

I don’t see any reason why demand would suddenly increase. We don’t see a sharp drop in inflation, but rather a sign that inflation will rise to 5% and daily costs will be higher again. In addition, there is uncertainty and the war in Ukraine. There may be corrections in smaller markets – both slight declines and increases in the most attractive projects – small, about 3%. It all depends on what kind of apartments will be put on the market by developers.

Today you may notice that developers tempt customers with discounts and send emails about discounts. It wasn’t like that last year…

It is difficult to ignore this information, but we cannot count on the fact that the reductions will be a mass phenomenon, that is, this mythical “bubble bursting”.

However, although supply favors buyers, loan interest rates do not favor them. Most fixed-rate loans, paradoxically, are not used because the rate is high – 7-8%. Today, buyers would be more willing to take out a loan with a variable interest rate, while the main offer of banks is fixed-rate loans.

What is the situation for those who want to sell their apartment today?

It is no coincidence that the supply of apartments on the secondary market has increased. This is the result of the longer time it takes to sell the properties. A year ago, the person who listed the apartment could sell it in a few days, or maybe even hours. Now he will have to wait weeks and still be ready to negotiate the price.

And who wants to buy an apartment as an investment? Isn’t an apartment purchased with the intention of making money from renting it out more profitable today?

I have no doubt that this is the case. The price of the purchased apartment rises, and the rent stabilizes or even falls – so the profitability is getting lower and lower. Is renting profitable? It all depends on what the person who bought the apartment as an investment expects. Because if he bought it outright 5 years ago, even if he has less profit today, it is still absolutely profitable, there are no loan costs.

The situation is completely different for those who took out a loan, say in mid-2020 or 2021, with interest rates of 0.1, and now the WIBOR is around 6%. To compensate for the higher costs of servicing the loan, there would have to be an appropriate increase in rent. Without a doubt, the rent calculated at this time is less profitable than it was a year ago.

Does the government’s postponement of the decision on the new program affect prices in the development market?

When I asked myself what would stabilize the market a year ago, I thought that if I didn’t want to – sitting in Świętokrzyska [ siedziba Ministerstwa Finansów – red.]overload the state budget with new expenses and at the same time calm the real estate market in the madness that was happening at that time, I would have announced this program and then negotiated for a long time.

This is what we are seeing now.

Yes, and that is why it is not certain whether the program will come into effect.

Will he come in?

I think so, but the number of restrictions will mean that only a small group of buyers will benefit from the program. In the format recently introduced, families with four children would mainly benefit. Because in their case, the requirement of not owning an apartment has been abolished, as well as the income limit.

Will this program cause prices to rise again and customers to have to dig deeper into their pockets?

We have a large supply on the market. If few people use the program, the impact of the program on prices and sales will be small.

In August, regulations on real estate development came into force. Some developers have threatened that the new regulations will increase prices because they will be able to build fewer apartments. Will this be the case?

Of course. If a developer bought a plot of land on which he planned to build 100 apartments, and now he has to build a playground of a certain size and at the same time move the building away from the edge of the plot, he will build 70 to 80 apartments. And this will really change the Excel of these projects. However, developers have obtained many permits, so we should not feel the effects of the regulation for the next six months or even longer.

What can those looking to buy an apartment expect this year?

It seems that they will be in a comfortable position when it comes to choosing an apartment. There are many indications that we will not experience any sudden changes in the market environment: new regulations, changes in offers or interest rates. We cannot predict how the “Start-up Loan” will impact the market because we do not know how it will be in the end. The lists circulating among the ministries indicate quite strong antagonisms between the politicians of the ruling coalition when it comes to housing policy.

In addition to the program, what price increases can we expect?

Prices in the real estate market usually rise slightly above inflation – and this figure is expected to be around 4-5 percent in the second half of the year. At the beginning of next year, we will probably see another jump in inflation – to 6-7 percent. Apartment prices will rise by 7-10 percent next year. This should not surprise us. In smaller cities, where developers are more exposed to the effects of reduced liquidity, we can expect promotions and a tendency towards price discounts. But not in all small markets – because they are completely different from each other. We have a different situation in dynamically developing Szczecin or Rzeszów, and a different situation in Bydgoszcz or Kielce.

Katarzyna Kuniewicz – Market Research Director at Otodom Analytics, specializing in issues related to the real estate market in Poland. Expert in the field of organizing research on demand and supply in the real estate market. Speaker at numerous conferences, participant in debates, commentator on housing phenomena and trends.

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Weekly Poll: Which Google Pixel 9 Are You Buying (If Any)?

Google unveiled four new phones this week—three rigid and one foldable. Half of the new models will arrive next week, the other half in early September, but all are up for pre-order with a free storage upgrade as a reason to jump on board early. What do you think?

Pricing details for the US, Canada and Europe are here , with the India launch a day later – details here . While the entry-level Pixel 9 has lost its flagship status, it’s more expensive than its predecessor ($800/€900 vs. $700/€800). The Pro costs the same, but the Pro XL is the proper successor to the Pixel 8 Pro and is also priced higher ($1,100/€1,200 vs. $1,000/€1,100).

Let’s start with the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. Google has slightly increased the screen size to 6.8” and switched to an ultrasonic FPGA sensor. The rear cameras are mostly the same, but they can now record 8K video (30fps). The front-facing camera has received a significant upgrade to a 42MP sensor and an ultra-wide-angle lens with autofocus. Charging speeds have been improved, now reaching 70% in 30 minutes (up from 50%). Satellite SOS is now supported, too.

The Pro XL is pricey, but you can spread the cost over the 7 years the phone will be supported. For the most part, there aren’t any specs that feel like they’ll age too quickly – with the possible exception of the Tensor G4 chipset, but that’s something we’ll have to test. Adding 16GB of RAM was a good move, as rival Samsung still only offers a maximum of 12GB.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL launches on August 22. Are you considering pre-ordering it?

The Google Pixel 9 Pro is about a month away, with a September 9 release date. It’s nearly identical to the XL except for the size – with a 6.3” display, it’s slightly larger than the Pixel 8 and larger than the Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15 Pro. Still, as far as Android phones go, this one is one of the smallest (at least among the major brands).

While it’s not as small as some might have liked, at least there’s finally a Pixel phone with a 5x telephoto lens that’s smaller than the 6.7″. In addition, the little Pro gets a good ultra-wide camera (not a 12MP unit like the Pixel 8), the latest Gorilla Glass Victus 2, as well as UWB and a thermometer (things that were exclusive to the 8 Pro), and even satellite SOS.

Google has finally built a small(ish) flagship – do you think it’s a good choice for you?

The regular Google Pixel 9 is the same size as the 9 Pro, but the differences are deeper. There’s no telephoto lens, of course, and there’s also no new 42MP selfie camera (the 10.5MP module with an AF ultra-wide-angle lens isn’t bad). There’s also no 8K video recording, although we don’t think many will miss it.

More importantly, the phone has 12GB of RAM — less than the Pro, but more than the Pixel 8 and 8a. The display is also 1080 x 2424px instead of 1280 x 2856px, and it’s not an LTPO panel like the 9 Pro. There’s no UWB or thermometer, but you do get satellite SOS and Wi-Fi 7 with 6GHz support (neither Apple nor Samsung offer that).

Like the Pro XL, the Google Pixel 9 will launch on August 22. Are you thinking about buying it?

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold starts at the same $1,800 as its predecessor. However, it’s thinner and lighter (10.5mm, 257g vs. 12.1mm, 283g), while also sporting a larger 8.0-inch internal display (up from 7.6-inch) and a 6.3-inch external display (up from 5.8-inch). It’s thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold6 (12.1mm), though not as lightweight (239g), and only has water resistance (IPX8). Its folded width of 77.1mm is more bearable than the old model’s 79.5mm, though still a bit too wide for some.

Computing power has increased significantly – the original Fold launched with the Tensor G2 (12GB of RAM), this one has the G4 (16GB). Also, the original Fold had a short software support window (3 OS updates, 5 years of patches), the new model has a full 7 years.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is set to launch on September 9 – would you buy it?

Finally, one more survey to clear up any doubts: If you’re going to buy a Pixel 9 phone, which one are you going to choose?

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Justin Sun Bets on Memecoins with Tron-Based Token Generator

“To address this, the Sun team is committed to improving our review processes, introducing community oversight, and promoting transparency to ensure the safety and trust of our users,” Sun said in an interview. “SunPump conducts thorough screening of creators and projects before they are allowed to launch on the platform, helping to ensure they meet specific integrity standards.”

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National Awards: Nithya Menen’s first reaction after winning Best Actress

New Delhi:

The 70th annual National Film Awards for films released in 2022 were announced on Friday. In a big win for Nithya Menen, the actress bagged the Best Actress award for her stellar performance in Thiruchitrambalam (Tamil). The actor shared the award with Manasi Parekh, who won for her role in Kutch Express (Gujarati). Now, days later, Nithya Menen has reacted to her big win. Speaking to Indian Express, Nithya said, “Honestly, I didn’t know they announced the National Awards. It might sound unusual, but actually I live under a rock. I like being separated from the hustle and bustle. I didn’t expect it at all.”

He continued: “Oh my God, it was overwhelming. Do so many people have my number? Do a lot of people care about me? Do a lot of people care that I win an award? What was really a blessing was the genuineness of their wishes. The win felt personal to a lot of people and they celebrated it than his own profit. Is it not such a blessed place to invest?”

He further added, “The actor added, “I am fed up with the fact that Thiruchitrambalam is the film that got me this award. The thing is, I always want to make movies that make me happy doing it and make other people happy. looking at it, I think there is more merit in making another person smile or be happy than trying in a very self-centered way to do a role in the hope that it will be validated by an award.

Directed by Mithran Jawahar, Thiruchitrambalam features Dhanush and Nithya as best friends Thiru and Shobana. In the film, Dhanush plays Thiru, who is a delivery boy. Thiru shares a good relationship with his grandfather (Bharathiraja) but finds it difficult to connect with his father (Prakash Raj), who is a police officer.

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QUICK TEST. Cities in Poland, part 2. Can you handle 9/9?

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Canal+ Family Canal+ 360 Canal+ Champions League Extra how to watch

The Canal+ Family station is the top choice on Canal+ set-top boxes and is already included in the Entry+ package, which costs PLN 10 per month for the first year of the contract and PLN 15 per month thereafter. It is also available in the Canal+ Series and Films Canal+ online package for PLN 29 per month. By broadcasting selected Champions League matches on Canal+ Family, the pay-TV provider will be able to encourage customers to choose more expensive packages.

Canal+ Family will soon be renamed Canal+ 360

In July, the National Broadcasting Council received a request to change the name of Canal+ Family to Canal+ 360. On August 20, Canal+ Family will start broadcasting the first episodes of several productions. These include: docuseries “Judges”, “Hunters for the Secrets of the Baltic Sea”, “Małyszomania”, “Agnieszka Radwańska. Anatomy of Victory”, “Poland from Above”, “Jeremy”, “Footballers Under Surveillance”, “Animals of Wajrak”.

The Champions League game will be preceded by studio commentary, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. The Champions League game is also scheduled to be broadcast at 11 p.m., but it is not known what that match will be about. The matches were also included in the schedule for August 21. Coverage of the WTA 250 Tennis on Earth is scheduled for August 22. Canal+ did not respond to our question about the date of the rebranding. The next meeting of the National Broadcasting Council will be held in early September. It is not possible to give prior consent to a name change.

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Canal+ Family began broadcasting on April 5, 2013, following the merger of the digital platforms Cyfra+ and N. There was also a sister channel, Canal+ Family 2, but on May 11, 2015 it was transformed into Canal+ 1. It continues to broadcast Canal+ Premium content with a one-hour delay. As of August 10, 2022, Canal+ Family is the first in the channel listings of Canal+ set-top boxes. It then replaced TVN.

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Canal+ 360 already has a license

In mid-June, the National Broadcasting Council granted satellite licences to the following channels: Canal+ 360, Canal+ Extra 1, Canal+ Extra 2, Canal+ Extra 3 and Canal+ Extra 4. Only the first two stations broadcast daily. The remaining internet channels Canal+ Extra 5-7 (which do not require a licence) broadcast several Champions League matches simultaneously. Canal+ Extra 1-4 will launch on 20 August, and Canal+ 5-7 on 1 October.

According to the license, Canal+ 360 will have a specialized sports character. – The programme will be broadcast every day, for at least 20 hours a day. The universality of the programme will be achieved through four types of programmes, which will occupy no less than 62% of the programme’s weekly broadcast time from 6:00 to 23:00. The applicant has planned the following types of programmes and their minimum percentage of the weekly broadcast time: 6:00 to 23:00 (not less): current affairs programmes – 1%, feature films – 20%, documentaries – 1%. and sports programmes – 40%. The applicant stated that the programme would present sporting events, feature films, documentaries and news programmes – as stated in the description of the broadcaster Canal+ 360.

Why did Canal+ first apply for a license for Canal+ 360 and now want to change the name of Canal+ Family to Canal+ 360? Two reasons are most likely. The broadcaster could apply for a license “as a precaution”. Recently, the National Broadcasting Council did not agree to change the name of the station Zakupy24.TV to Wiadomości24. This was accompanied by a too radical change in the subject matter. Another reason could be technical. In recent weeks, the broadcaster may have decided that despite the change in FEC on the satellite transponders, there is still not enough space to broadcast another station in adequate quality. Transforming one of the channels into Canal+ 360 will solve the problem.

Champions League on Canal+

In the spring, Canal+ acquired exclusive rights to broadcast all UEFA Champions League, UEFA Youth League and UEFA Super Cup matches in the 2024/25, 2025/26 and 2026/27 seasons. In recent years, Champions League matches have been shown on Polsat Sport Premium channels.

Recently, in line with previous announcements, Canal+ online increased the price of the sports package. You can no longer buy the Canal+ package for PLN 54 per month, only the Canal+ Super Sport package for PLN 69 per month (existing subscribers can start paying an additional PLN 15 per month at any time and get access to LM).

Previously, Canal+ has introduced Champions League offerings for satellite customers. The new LM stations will be part of the Super Sport package. Customers of the Canal+ satellite offer can now activate the Super Sport package for PLN 20/month (in the option with commitment) and use it free of charge until the end of August this year. In the no-obligation option, the Super Sport package will be offered for PLN 30/month. The prerequisite for using Super Sport for new and existing customers is to have a TV package with Canal+ channels. For PLN 75 per month, customers can use the Entry+ package with the full range of Canal+ channels, the Super Sport package with the UEFA Champions League and the Eleven Sports and Viaplay Medium channels. Canal+ Extra stations will also offer cable networks. There are no negotiations with Polsat Box.

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Rick Stein’s steamed pudding with honey sauce is perfect for Sunday lunch

After a hearty Sunday lunch, there really is nothing better than eating a filling, sweet pudding afterwards.

The most popular puddings after Sunday lunch are sticky toffee pudding, Eton Mess, syrup mushroom pudding and apple crumble.

While sticky toffee pudding and syrupy mushrooms are delicious, for a summery twist, cooking enthusiasts can try whipping up Rick Stein’s steamed mushroom pudding with a honey butter chunk sauce.

Serving eight, this delicious recipe includes butter, honey sauce and a light, soft mushroom.

Rick said of the recipe: “This irresistibly light and buttery steamed mushroom pudding is easy to make, as is a hearty honey church sauce to serve alongside it.”

Rick recommends serving the mushroom pudding with Cornish ice cream, but you can serve it with custard, cream or cream.

How to make Rick Stein’s Steamed Mushroom Pudding with Honey Butter Chunk SauceIngredients

175g/6oz butter, softened, plus shortening

175g/6oz light muscovado sugar

One tablespoon of honey

Three large free-range eggs

175g/6oz self-rising flour

Cornish ice cream to serve

For butterscotch sauce

50g/1¾oz butter

100 g/3½ oz light muscovado sugar

150g/5½oz honey plus extra serving

150ml/¼ pint double cream

Method

1. First grease a liter pudding basin with butter and then beat the butter and sugar together until it resembles a light and fluffy mixture. Add the honey, beat in the eggs one at a time before adding a spoonful of flour with the last egg. Fold in the rest of the flour.

2. Next, cover the pool with oiled foil folded in the middle and tie it in place with string.

3. Place the basin in the steamer basket over boiling water and cover it with a lid. Steam the pudding for two hours, add boiling water to the pot if necessary.

4. Next, prepare the butter chunk sauce by putting the butter, sugar and honey in a saucepan over low heat and stir all the ingredients until they have melted and all the sugar has dissolved. Stir in the cream and keep the sauce warm.

5. Serve the pudding by removing the foil from the pudding basin and gently running a knife around its edge to loosen the pudding. Cover with a plate and reverse the pudding. Portion by cutting the pudding into slices and serve it with sandwich sauce and your own side dish.

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US experts on Ukraine’s progress in the Kursk region: effective strikes

The American Institute for the Study of War has published a new report on the situation in the Russo-Ukrainian war. The experts paid close attention to the Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk Oblast.

Ukraine’s progress in the Kursk region

The advances of Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast have a significant impact on the strategic situation in the region. Effective attacks on infrastructure and reconnaissance operations destabilize Russian defense and logistics lines. Russia managed to repel some of the Ukrainian attacks, but the offensive still puts pressure on the Russian defense and forces it to respond on several levels, including political and humanitarian.

In recent days, Ukrainian operational forces have concentrated their operations on the southeastern outskirts of Suja. Russian sources, including so-called milbloggers, report Ukrainian advances in the area of ​​Mirny and Spalnoye. Available video materials from August 15 confirm that Ukrainian units were also operating in the vicinity of the village of Borki, located southeast of Suja.

Attacks by sabotage and reconnaissance groups

As ISW experts note, Ukrainian mobile units, consisting mainly of small reconnaissance groups, carried out limited strikes in the Kursk Oblast. Their main target was the rear of Russian positions, with the aim of weakening Russian defense and logistics.

The defense, according to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, managed to repel a Ukrainian mechanized attack on Gordeevka and Ukrainian attacks west of Anastasyevka and southeast of Kauchuk. The area of ​​​​these operations is approximately 27 km from the state border, which shows the extent to which Ukrainians already operate

Ukrainian HIMARS attacks on bridges

The Ukrainian armed forces also carried out successful attacks on bridges in the Glushkovo area, which led to their destruction. These bridges, which are extremely important elements of the Russian communications infrastructure, were destroyed as a result of precision strikes using the HIMARS system.

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The destruction of the bridge in Glushkovo was confirmed by geolocation recordings published on August 16. The destruction of bridges in the region makes it significantly more difficult for Russian forces to maintain effective lines of communication and logistics.

Attacks in the Belgorod region

According to ISW: “The recent attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces in the western part of Belgorod Oblast have reached a greater extent than previously reported.” According to experts, the Ukrainian units that carried out attacks in the area of ​​the Kolotilovka border crossing managed to advance up to 10 kilometers into Russian territory.

Available sources, however, allow us to state that intense air strikes and artillery fire from the Russian side forced Ukrainian troops to withdraw from these positions. However, Ukrainian troops still maintained maneuverability in this region.

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Movie Recommendations: From a Blockbuster to an Oscar-Nominated Film

“Tatami”

Dir.: Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Guy Nattiv. Played by: Arienne Mandi, Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Jaime Ray Newman.

The “tatami” of the title is the tatami where judo matches take place. At the world championships taking place in Georgia, the young Iranian Leila Hosseini is fighting for the title. She is well prepared by her coach, former player Maryam Ghanbari. She wins fight after fight. The problem is that in the final she could face the undefeated world champion from Israel. And it is likely that Leila will lose the fight for the gold. For the Iranian authorities, losing to the enemy is a serious propaganda problem. They are demanding that she withdraw from the competition.

But Hosseini doesn’t want to hear about it. And so the sports drama filmed by Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Guy Nattiv turns into a political drama. The circle of blackmail is tightening around the player and the coach. The coach quits, and the athlete doesn’t want to hear about quitting. But the consequences of such a decision are enormous. They affect their families. 

In a typical sports film, Hosseini would fight to the end and win, becoming world champion. But “Tatami” is not about sporting laurels. In this story, the hard-won victory is simply participating in the final, not succumbing to political violence, opposing terror and overcoming one’s own fear. 

The creators of this black-and-white film are immigrants. Guy Nattiv, Oscar winner for the short film “Skin” and director of the controversial film “Golda” about Golda Meir, worked on the script with an Iranian dissident, the Paris-based actress Elham Efrani. The coach was played by Zar Amir Ebrahimi – another refugee from Iran, who has lived in France for 15 years and recently won an award at Cannes for her role in the thriller “Holy Spider” by Ali Abbasi. She is also a co-director of this film in which you feel the truth. 

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