Zordur Gitmek

Faya Dayi

2021

120 minute

According to an Ethiopian legend, the stimulant green leaf, qat or khat, was discovered by Sufis in their quest for eternity. Inspired by this legend, "Zordur Gitmek" embarks on a spiritual journey in the Harar highlands, where qat, now Ethiopia's most lucrative agricultural product, is enveloped in its unique rituals. "Zordur Gitmek" creates an intimate narrative of the stories of people caught between the government's heavy pressure on the qat trade, the dreams induced by qat, and the dangerous journeys across borders, also glancing at the dreams of young people whose lives have been deeply scarred by the oppressive regime. Filmed over a decade, the screenplay for "Zordur Gitmek" was written by, and the film was produced, directed, and shot by, the Mexican-Ethiopian artist Jessica Beshir. "Faya Dayi" is a song sung by Oromo farmers during the qat harvest, meaning "may it bring well-being and health."