A LEAF OF FAITH.

• Author: Mangu-Ward, Katherine
• Position: DOCUMENTARY - Movie review - Brief article

Like kratom itself, a new documentary from Chris Bell feels a little scammy. The shooting, animation, and narrative structure of A Leaf of Faith are sloppy; the tone veers between boosterish infomercial and conspiracy theorizing about big pharma.

Kratom, a leaf from Southeast Asia, is available over the counter in the United States, often sold under ridiculous names in brightly colored envelopes. Users say it treats pain, improves mood or focus, and helps manage opioid addiction. Similar to marijuana, its advocates--many of whom drift in and out of the film without too much introduction--point to a wide array of asserted therapeutic benefits, very low side effects, the near-impossibility of overdose, and the...