Honeyland
Tamara Kotevska & Ljubomir Stefanov | North Macedonia | 2019
| Directors: Tamara Kotevska, Ljubomir Stefanov Producers: Atanas Georgiev, Ljubomir Stefanov Writers: Tamara Kotevska, Ljubomir Stefanov | Cinematography: Fejmi Daut, Samir Ljuma Editor: Atanas Georgiev Music: Foltin |
Rating: M Offensive language Runtime: 82 mins
Observational documentaries, where the filmmakers do not feature on screen themselves as protagonists or to ask questions, can often be the purest example of the well worn piece of advice to filmmakers: show, don’t tell.
Shot over three years, Honeyland focuses on Hatidze Muratova, the last wild beekeeper in Europe. She lives with her elderly mother in an isolated Macedonian village in the mountains without roads or electricity. The delicate balance she manages to keep with her bees is interrupted when a family moves in next door and begins following her example in keeping bees.
The film has been acclaimed for its cinematography, humanity and insight into the important themes of climate change, the loss of biodiversity and capitalism. Honeyland has been widely recognized and awarded at film festivals around the world, including the Sundance Film Festival and the European Film Awards. It was nominated for Best Documentary and Best International Feature at the 92nd Academy Awards.
“The debut feature from documentarians Ljubo Stefanov and Tamara Kotevska, Honeyland is a portrait of the delicate balance between humankind and nature, a glimpse at a fast-disappearing way of life, and a testament to one extraordinary woman’s resilience.”
—Toronto International Film Festival