Honeyland (2019)

Honeyland (2019)

A cinematic achievement in the portrayal of the last wild beekeeper in Europe

The Very Best

9.3

Movie

Macedonia
Bosnian, Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian
Documentary
2019
FEMALE DIRECTOR, LJUBOMIR STEFANOV
Hatidze Muratova, Hatidzhe Muratova, Hussein Sam
89 min

What it's about

When nomadic beekeepers break Honeyland’s basic rule (take half of the honey, but leave half to the bees), the last female beehunter in Europe must save the bees and restore natural balance.

The take

The first movie to be nominated for both the Documentary and Foreign-Language Oscar categories and the most awarded film of the 2019 Sundance Festival, Honeyland quietly accompanies the last wild beekeepers in Europe over three years. It portrays the lonely and primordial life of Muratova, which is centered around harvesting honey according to the rules of her ancient ancestors and caring for her ailing mother.

Originally planned as an environmental documentary, this film evolved into something completely different, as it often goes with immersive documentaries, when the Macedonian directors Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov met beekeeper Hatidže. The film takes another sudden turn when Muratova's life is upended by a nomadic family settling next door, threatening her tradition, her way of life, and her natural environment.

This unbelievable cinematic journey is a feast for the eyes thanks to the amazing work done by cinematographer Samir Ljuma. However, despite the awe-inspiring imagery, Honeyland never imposes on its subject, creating an incredible intimacy with Hatidže's life and her natural environment. Breathtaking!

Comments

I adored this doc. One of the best! 10/10

Add a comment

Your name

Your comment

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

The Guilty (2018)

A minimalist, razor-sharp thriller that will have you gasping for air.

9.0

System Crasher (2019)

A tale of trauma and one of the most talked about movies on Netflix in 2020.

9.0

Gods and Monsters (1998)

A speculative but compassionate depiction of the later days of one of the first ever Hollywood directors

7.9

Forgotten Love (2023)

The stunning third take of the classic Polish pre-war melodrama

7.7

Amy (2015)

Though it sometimes borders on voyeurism, this incredibly intimate documentary uncovers new depths of the legendary singer’s misunderstood persona

7.6

A Revolution on Canvas (2023)

An Iranian artist looks back on a life of revolutionary and familial struggle in this heartbreaking but illuminating documentary

7.5

The Quiet American (2002)

An effortless adaptation of the challenging romantic political drama

7.2

Fighting with My Family (2019)

A refreshing look at pro wrestling through teen comedy drama tropes

7.5

Hail Satan? (2019)

Forget everything you think you know about the Satanic Temple

8.0

Black Book (2006)

Paul Verhoeven returns to his native Netherlands through this familiar espionage romance thriller

7.0

Curated by humans, not algorithms.

agmtw logo

© 2024 agoodmovietowatch, all rights reserved.