Lido Cinemas
JIFF: King Khat
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Melech Hahagigat
Australian Premiere
“Nir Matarasso’s animation is so vividly playful and richly textured, with references from Steampunk to Jan Van Eyk, it’s clever, irreverent, and gorgeous.” - Midnight East
Imagine that you’re a renowned chemist who invents a legal psychoactive drug. Then imagine that you turn your invention into a start-up and become the most notorious drug baron of the 21st century. If all of this is true, how do you make a documentary out of such a wildly unbelievable story? If you’re director Uri Marantz, you animate it using a striking mix of styles, give it an eclectic score, and take the audience on a journey to where academia and tech meet the Haifa underworld.
Made with cutting-edge animation techniques, this trippy and anarchic film tells the true story of Gabi, the Israeli chemist who became the 21st century’s most notorious drug baron after inventing a legal psychoactive drug from Cathinone, all the while trying to maintain a normal family life.
Festivals and Awards
Official Selection - 2023 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
Rating
Unclassified 15+
Duration
74
Country
Israel, Portugal
Language
Hebrew (English subtitles)
Cast
Oshri Cohen
Director
Uri Marantz
