Honeyland
Honeyland

Movie spotlight

Honeyland

2019
Movie
89 min
Turkish

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.

Insights

IMDb7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes100%
Metacritic85/100
Google Users93%
Director: Tamara Kotevska, Ljubomir StefanovGenres: Documentary, Nature

Plot Summary

Honeyland chronicles the life of Hatidze Muratova, a Macedonian woman living in a remote village who cultivates wild honey using traditional methods. Her solitary existence is disrupted when a nomadic family arrives, bringing with them a loud, modern approach to farming that clashes with her deeply ingrained respect for nature and the bees.

Critical Reception

Honeyland received widespread critical acclaim for its stunning cinematography, intimate portrayal of its subject, and its poignant examination of environmentalism and human impact. Critics lauded its observational style and the powerful, almost mythic quality of Hatidze's story.

What Reviewers Say

  • Visually breathtaking, capturing the harsh beauty of the Macedonian landscape and the intimate details of Hatidze's life.

  • A profound and moving portrait of a woman living in harmony with nature, contrasted with the destructive forces of modernization.

  • The film masterfully balances a personal story with broader ecological and social themes.

Google audience: Audience reviews consistently praise the film's unique and captivating subject matter, the compelling presence of Hatidze, and its beautiful, immersive visual style. Many viewers found it to be an eye-opening and emotionally resonant documentary.

Awards & Accolades

Won two awards at the Sundance Film Festival (Grand Jury Prize and Special Jury Award for Cinematography), nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 93rd Academy Awards, won Best Documentary at the European Film Awards.

Fun Fact

The filmmakers followed Hatidze for three years, living with her and earning her trust, which allowed for the incredibly intimate and observational style of the documentary.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
SWITCH.

SWITCH.

Despite issues with its composition, 'Honeyland' is a thoughtful and compassionate exercise in exposing a lifestyle many have long ago abandoned, and one that deserves a place in the public consciousness. Muratova is only one woman, but her...

JordanTasevski

JordanTasevski

"Honeyland" and Greta Thurnberg - The new heroes of our time The two phenomenon have been a subject to a similar bipolar division of reactions in the public where some glorified them, and others criticized them up to a point of hatred. T...