Quick Info
Honeyland is a documentary that follows Hatidze, a traditional beekeeper in rural North Macedonia, as she tends to her bees using ancient, sustainable methods. You get drawn into her daily life almost wordlessly—just her, her ailing mother, and the buzzing landscape. It feels intimate and earthy, capturing patience and respect for nature that’s rare to see onscreen.
What really stood out was the way the film lets the story unfold visually, without obtrusive narration. When a new family moves in next door and disrupts the fragile balance with their greedier approach, you can actually feel the tension and heartbreak. The cinematography is stunning—it’s lyrical and feels almost like a nature film, but always grounded in Hatidze’s warmth and resilience.
If I had a criticism, it’s that the film moves at a meditative pace, and sometimes that can feel slow, especially if you’re looking for something with a strong narrative arc or action. Still, if you enjoy people-focused documentaries that immerse you in another way of life and provoke thought about sustainability, this is a gem. I’d easily recommend it to anyone with patience for a slower pace and an affinity for stories about real people.
