A stunningly shot documentary as Hatizde, a rural Macedonian beekeeper, goes about her everyday in the isolated, seemingly abandoned village of Berkilija, caring for ‘her’ wild bee bees and invalid mother. The arrival of a large, itinerant family upsets the natural balance of her livelihood.
First time directors Ljubomir Stefanov and Tamara Kotevska present a patient portrait of a dedicated woman who deals with the hardships thrown at her with grace. Her problem is the greed of Hussein and his wife who decimate the hives for a quick dollar.
Honeyland is unassuming and sublime, asking us, the viewers, to take a moment to think of lives outside our own reference point that are lived in delicate balance with the natural world.
Nominated for 2 Oscars in 2020 – best feature documentary & foreign language film.
Rating: 84%
Director: Ljubomir Stefanov, Tamara Kotevska
An Opinion or Two 