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Made in Ethiopia

Play trailer Poster for Made in Ethiopia 2024 1h 31m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 6 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
When a massive Chinese industrial park lands in rural Ethiopia, a dusty farming town finds itself at the new frontier of globalization. The sprawling factory complex's formidable Chinese director Motto now needs every bit of mettle and charm she can muster to push through a high-stakes expansion that promises 30,000 new jobs. Ethiopian farmer Workinesh and factory worker Beti have staked their futures on the prosperity the park promises. But as initial hope meets painful realities, they find themselves, like their country, at a pivotal crossroads. Filmed over four years with singular access, Made in Ethiopia lifts the curtain on China's historic but misunderstood impact on Africa, and explores contemporary Ethiopia at a moment of profound crisis. The film throws audiences into two colliding worlds: an industrial juggernaut fueled by profit and progress, and a vanishing countryside where life is still measured by the cycle of the seasons. And its nuance, complexity and multi-perspective approach go beyond black and white narratives of victims and villains. As the three women's stories unfold, Made in Ethiopia challenges us to rethink the relationship between tradition and modernity, growth and welfare, the development of a country and the well-being of its people.

Critics Reviews

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Danny Leigh Financial Times 12/07/2024
4/5
The film can be a victim of oversupply: Ma is such an outsize personality that she dominates the story, a metaphor for the lopsided power dynamic between the players. Go to Full Review Cath Clarke Guardian 11/26/2024
3/5
This makes for knotty viewing, with no messages that slip down easily. Go to Full Review Murtada Elfadl Variety 06/10/2024
Despite an imbalance in perspectives, “Made in Ethiopia” ends up presenting a compelling narrative about how Chinese influence in Ethiopia impacts both expats and native people. Go to Full Review Stephen Silver The SS Ben Hecht Aug 1
It’s another work about how modern China kept all the worst parts of communism, while also layering on top of it all the worst parts of capitalism. Go to Full Review Alan French Sunshine State Cineplex 06/07/2024
8/10
Made in Ethiopia strikes a cord and features some brilliant cinematography. It’s quite an important story in 2024, as colonial power reestablishes itself with a new world order. Go to Full Review Stephen Saito Moveable Fest 06/07/2024
“Made in Ethiopia” richly captures an entire landscape of a nation in flux. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
Made in Ethiopia

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Xinyan Yu

Director

Max Duncan

Director

Max Duncan

Screenwriter

Xinyan Yu

Screenwriter

Tamara Mariam Dawit

Producer

Xinyan Yu

Producer

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Made in Ethiopia

Made in Ethiopia (2024) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When a massive Chinese industrial park lands in rural Ethiopia, a dusty farming town finds itself at the new frontier of globalization. The sprawling factory complex's formidable Chinese director Motto now needs every bit of mettle and charm she can muster to push through a high-stakes expansion that promises 30,000 new jobs. Ethiopian farmer Workinesh and factory worker Beti have staked their futures on the prosperity the park promises. But as initial hope meets painful realities, they find themselves, like their country, at a pivotal crossroads. Filmed over four years with singular access, Made in Ethiopia lifts the curtain on China's historic but misunderstood impact on Africa, and explores contemporary Ethiopia at a moment of profound crisis. The film throws audiences into two colliding worlds: an industrial juggernaut fueled by profit and progress, and a vanishing countryside where life is still measured by the cycle of the seasons. And its nuance, complexity and multi-perspective approach go beyond black and white narratives of victims and villains. As the three women's stories unfold, Made in Ethiopia challenges us to rethink the relationship between tradition and modernity, growth and welfare, the development of a country and the well-being of its people.
Director
Xinyan Yu, Max Duncan
Producer
Tamara Mariam Dawit, Xinyan Yu, Max Duncan
Screenwriter
Max Duncan, Xinyan Yu
Production Co
Hard Truth Films
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
Amharic
Runtime
1h 31m