FAYA DAYI by Jessica Beshir
In this episode Aylin Gökmen, filmmaker, contributor, and co-curator of Docs in Orbit brings us her favorite film from Sundance - FAYA DAYI by Jessica Beshir.
The film is an immersion into Harar, Beshir's hometown in Ethiopia, where many people’s lives revolve around the harvest, the trade, and the consumption of khat - a leaf that is chewed as a stimulant and also as a part of spiritual rituals.
Khat is a narrative and visual thread that weaves together the individual stories of the community that Jessica spent 10 years filming. These stories are full of light and darkness, just like the stunning black-and-white cinematography which, together with a hypnotic soundscape, make this film a beautiful piece of atmospheric cinema.
Aylin caught up with Jessica to discuss her approach, her inspirations, and how she makes the intangible felt through cinema.
We also discuss her previous short film, HAIRAT, which was filmed in parallel with FAYA DAYI and is available to stream on Vimeo and Criterion Collection.
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ABOUT THE ARTIST
JESSICA BESHIR (DIRECTOR/PRODUCER/CINEMATOGRAPHER) is a Mexican-Ethiopian 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, (Criterion). Her short films, He Who Dances on Wood (PBS) and Heroin (Topic), have screened in festivals and museums around the world including Hot Docs, IFFR, IDFA, the Tribeca Film Festival, the Eye Film Museum, and the Museum of the Moving Image in New York, among others. Beshir is a fellow at the Sundance Institute, The Doha Film Institute, & The Jerome Foundation. Faya Dayi is Jessica’s feature debut.
HAIRAT by Jessica Beshir
Available in North America through Criterion Collection
Available worldwide through Vimeo