Faya Dayi

Play trailer

Faya Dayi

2021

2h 0m

Documentary

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Cheyenne Bunsie

Little White Lies

06/23/2022

4/5

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

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

06/20/2022

3/5

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

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

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

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

bob w

@oaknum1 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.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Jessica Beshir

Director

Jessica Beshir

Writer

Jessica Beshir

Executive Producer

Daniel Patrick Carbone

Executive Producer

Two Gods

100%

%

Two Gods

Watchlist

Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets

93%

72%

Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets

The Bengali

67%

%

The Bengali

Watchlist

Heaven Rain Flows Sweetly

%

%

Heaven Rain Flows Sweetly

Watchlist

The Legend of Tayos

%

%

The Legend of Tayos

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Legend of Tayos

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

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