FAYA DAYI

Ethiopian legends say khat, a stimulant leaf, was found by Sufi Imams in search of eternity. Through a spiritual journey into the khat trade, stories of government repression, mystical fantasies, and risky journeys beyond borders are told, showing the dreams of a youth longing for a better life.

Emulating the intoxicating potency of the khat plant, Jessica Beshir’s documentary on the herbal drug trade in Ethiopia is pure poetry in motion. Casting a spell on the landscape, the gauzy black-and-white cinematography evokes the hazy line between the hardship of harvest and the stupor of bliss.