Faya Dayi Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Faya Dayi Blu-ray Movie Review

Khat got your tongue?

Reviewed by Randy Miller III August 29, 2022

Mexican-Ethiopian director Jessica Beshir makes her feature film debut with Faya Dayi, a documentary-drama hybrid that shares many similarities with several short films she directed during the late 2010s (some of which are included on this Blu-ray). Its subject matter is new, of course: though invariably human-centered and captured in black-and-white, it concerns itself with the flowering plant known as "khat", an addictive stimulant used for centuries in religious rituals and other social circles. Though classified as a potential drug of abuse by the World Health Organization, its controlled use is rarely regarded as dangerous and is legal in many countries including Ethiopia (where Faya Dayi takes place), where khat is recognized by our International Trade Administration as the country's fifth largest export.

Faya Dayi mostly impresses with its raw black-and-white visuals captured on all digital equipment, painting a rather stark and haunting portrait of Ethiopia that most viewers will never experience first-hand. There's some unforgettable imagery here; possibly even enough to recommend for interested parties on that merit alone, and even more so when paired with the film's impressive sound design. It's a good thing too, then, because Faya Dayi is a bit mushy in other areas: structurally, it appropriately enters something of a dream state, shifting between topics including the physical labor of producing khat, its ties to ritualistic use, political protest due to farmers' living standards, the harsh reality of addiction and, of course, a string of "interviews" with those fixed in its trance, some of whom dream of escaping the country for greener pastures. It's sobering and intoxicating at the same time, if that makes sense.

Owing a great deal to the work of Terence Malick (who I'm admittedly not a huge fan of), Faya Dayi occasionally at least reaches the medium-highs of his narration/visual juxtapositions and similarly favors ghostly off-screen narration over actual speaking characters -- these are rare enough that matching lip movements may actually catch viewers off guard. But despite the film's undeniable A/V strengths and its original subject matter, the way it's presented wears dangerously thin long before the 120-minute mark. This one's still worth a run-through for all documentary fans and those more receptive to Malick-style fare may appreciate it on a deeper level, but Faya Dayi is still very much a "your mileage may vary" experience. Criterion's Blu-ray edition offers a decent amount of support, combining a solid A/V presentation with a handful of extras whose strength hinges on your acceptance of the main feature.

Faya Dayi Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Advertised as being sourced from a new digital master approved by director Jessica Beshir, Criterion's exclusive 1080p transfer of Faya Dayi preserves what is specified as an "all-digital workflow"... meaning this may very well be as good as it gets on home video unless the film's native resolution was higher than 2K. Regardless, it looks to be a quality presentation indeed, and one that only falls short slightly in areas where it hits the format's glass ceiling. In particular, a few scenes with less-than-optimal lighting exhibit mild amounts of smearing and ghosting, where other areas tend to waver slightly in the area of black level depth. (Some of these anomalies are partially masked by what clearly appears to be added grain, but are there nonetheless.) Likewise, bright whites vary depending on location, with some feeling artificially darkened to possibly compensate for overexposure. Of course, any of these perceivable flaws are forgivable if not even expected within the much stricter boundaries of documentary filmmaking, where perfect lighting and careful compositions are often traded in to capture an otherwise fleeting moment or unrepeatable shot.

As far as disc compression goes, Criterion's typical Achilles heel of macroblocking and occasional posterization do rear their heads occasionally, but such items are not always noticeable in-motion and may not even register with those not actively looking for them. Overall, Faya Dayi earns a solid 4/5 since to most of its perceived -- and frankly not all that bothersome -- shortcomings are likely due to source material issues rather than the Blu-ray disc itself.

Faya Dayi Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Faya Dayi's all-digital sonic roots seem to stand out more strongly than its visuals, especially on their first impression, thanks to a surprisingly active sound design that livens up its otherwise gauzy atmosphere. But while quite a few strong rear-channel hits and other moments of larger impact are included, most of the film settles into more comfortable and familiar sonic territory: dialogue up front, music filling out the sides and back, and ambient background effects likewise sprinkled throughout the soundstage. While Faya Dayi doesn't exactly present viewers with a lush and exotic series of locations, the varied nature of its intermittently serene and occasionally chaotic soundstage do make for a rather engaging experience that seem to be preserved perfectly on Criterion's DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix.

English subtitles are offered during the main feature only, preserving the Amharic​​, Oromiffa, and Harari languages spoken during the film. For those keeping score at home, that's 60% of Ethiopia's official languages.

Faya Dayi Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in Criterion's standard thick keepcase, its design elements doubling down on the film's stark, all black-and-white aesthetic. As usual a fold-out insert includes credits, notes about the A/V presentation, and an essay by Yasmina Price titled "Escape and Return". On-disc extras are lighter than usual but appreciated.

• Jessica Beshir and Ladan Osman (35:46) - Subtitled "A Filmmaker's Devotion", this new and exclusive interview was recorded for The Criterion Collection in 2022 and features poet Ladan Osman speaking with director Jessica Bashir about the making of her feature-length debut film Faya Dayi.

• He Who Dances on Wood (5:48) - This 2016 full-color short film, directed by Jessica Beshir, follows a man she met in Brooklyn's Prospect Park who tap dances every day on a worn piece of wood.

• Heroin (16:41) - Directed by Beshir the following year, this black-and-white short film examines a portrait painter whose only subject is his ex-wife -- 29 years' worth of paintings and counting.

• Hairat (6:35, with optional director's introduction) - Also directed by Beshir in 2017, this black-and-white short film concerns an Ethopian man and his relationship with his beloved hyenas.

• Theatrical Trailer (2:07) - This striking promotional piece can also be seen here.

Faya Dayi Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Jessica Beshir's debut feature Faya Dayi, while ultimately an interesting and unique docudrama worth watching, is hampered by its somewhat drawn-out length and unyielding visual style. Recorded in timeless black-and-white and produced with an all-digital workflow, it wants to mimic the raw power of silver gelatin print photography but rarely seems quite as crisp and visceral as it ought to. Faya Dayi has more than a few memorable moments but feels too dry and repetitive to maintain its initial interest levels, yet others more immediately affected by its subject mater will likely be able to overlook these elements. Criterion's Blu-ray features a very good 1080p transfer and better audio, while the appeal of its extras will hinge solely on your opinion of the main feature. Try before you buy, surely.