Ethiopian legend has it that khat, a stimulant leaf, was found by Sufi Imams who longed for unity with god. For centuries, Sufi Muslims have chewed the khat leaf for the purpose of achieving a state of religious meditation and euphoria. Today, it is Ethiopia’s most lucrative cash crop used as a psychoactive drug not all that different from Cannabis. Regardless of the religious rituals of centuries ago, khat consumption has become part of daily life among many Ethiopians today. For many, chewing khat is the only means to escape from the unbearable weight of everyday realities, if only for a little while. The film takes us into the highlands of the city of Harar, and, through the prism of khat, highlights government repression prevalent in daily life, as well as the dreams of the youth.

2021 Rotterdam International Film Festival
2021 Visions du Réel (상)

Jessica BESHIR

Jessica Beshir is a Mexican-Ethiopian writer, director, producer and cinematographer based in Brooklyn. She made her directorial debut with her short film Hairat, which premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Her short films, and , have screened in festivals and museums around the world including Hot Docs, IFFR, IDFA, Eye Film Museum, and MOMI among others. is Jessica’s feature debut.