Faya Dayi

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Faya Dayi

2021

2h 0m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

33%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Ethiopian legend has it that khat, a stimulant leaf, was found by Sufi Imams in search of eternity. Inspired by this myth, Faya Dayi is a spiritual journey into the highlands of Harar immersed in the rituals of khat, a leaf that Sufi Muslims chewed for religious meditations -- and Ethiopia's most lucrative cash crop today. Through the prism of the khat trade, Faya Dayi weaves a tapestry of intimate stories of people caught between violent government repression, khat-induced fantasies and treacherous journeys beyond their borders, and offers a window into the dreams of the youth who long for a better life.

Critics Consensus

Faya Dayi's dreamlike feel and sensory approach to its subject combine to create a documentary that doubles as a spiritual experience.

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Cheyenne Bunsie

Little White Lies

06/23/2022

4/5

Gorgeously made with stories and images that will endure long after viewing.

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Danny Leigh

Financial Times

06/23/2022

4/5

With equal parts patience and verve, Mexican-Ethiopian director Jessica Beshir traces through the mimetic haze of her film a dark web of political history.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

06/20/2022

3/5

There are some marvellous images and moods in this misty, impressionistic study.

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Farah Cheded

A Good Movie To Watch

10/28/2023

Full of textures and images that evoke all of the senses, this is virtually a 5D movie, a hypnotic out-of-body experience that floats an astonishing expanse of ideas into your head — no talky explanations needed.

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Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

02/15/2023

It’s such a visually rich movie that Beshir can take viewers into a trance and separate us from the reality that this is not a work of fiction.

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Prahlad Srihari

News9 Live (India)

08/29/2022

Through the lens of khat harvesting, Beshir serves a portal into the plains of Harar where the plant is both a boon and a bane. https://www.news9live.com/entertainment/faya-dayi-film-review-188401

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bob w

09/23/2021

Yes, some of the cinematography is striking and creative, but it's a glacially paced bore, with story lines that are impossible to follow. If you enjoy spending two hours eating canned spinach you'll enjoy this. We couldn't wait for this to end.

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Jessica Beshir

Director

Jessica Beshir

Writer

Jessica Beshir

Executive Producer

Daniel Patrick Carbone

Executive Producer

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Synopsis

Ethiopian legend has it that khat, a stimulant leaf, was found by Sufi Imams in search of eternity. Inspired by this myth, Faya Dayi is a spiritual journey into the highlands of Harar immersed in the rituals of khat, a leaf that Sufi Muslims chewed for religious meditations -- and Ethiopia's most lucrative cash crop today. Through the prism of the khat trade, Faya Dayi weaves a tapestry of intimate stories of people caught between violent government repression, khat-induced fantasies and treacherous journeys beyond their borders, and offers a window into the dreams of the youth who long for a better life.

Director: Jessica Beshir
Screenwriter: Jessica Beshir
Distributor: Janus Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Amharic
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 3, 2021, Limited
Runtime: 2h 0m