Once primarily a site of traditional, small-scale farming, the Ethiopian town of Dukem now finds itself on the frontlines of globalization. In 2007, Dukem became host to the Eastern Industry Zone, a mammoth manufacturing campus built by a Chinese investment consortium. Made in Ethiopia begins as the project enters its second phase, following Motto, the industrial park’s formidably ambitious Chinese director, as she seeks to push through an expansion that will devour huge swaths of Dukem’s remaining farmland. The film also follows Workinesh, one of the farmers pursuing just compensation for the appropriation of her land, and Beti, a factory worker who hopes to share in the industrial park’s promise of prosperity. Filming over four years, co-directors Xinyan Yu and Max Duncan seek to lift the curtain on China’s increasing and often misunderstood impact on Africa. With the support of Ethiopian-Canadian producer Tamara Dawit, they have gained remarkable access, offering a nuanced, multi-perspective approach that transcends simple narratives of victims and villains. As its protagonists’ stories unfold, Made in Ethiopia poses probing questions as to the relationship between tradition and modernity, growth and welfare, the development of a country and the well-being of its people. -PLANET IN FOCUS

Join us at the Paradise Theatre for a conversation with co-director, Xinyan Yu, after the screening.

Doors Open 30 Minutes Before Showtime.