No. 19. (2020) HONEYLAND March 22nd.

Film No. 19 (2020)  March 22nd.  2:20 PM  LUNA PALACE Leederville. 

"Half for them, half for us." (Hatidze explains the essence of harvesting the honey as a sustainable resource to her new friend, one of the Sam children).

This Oscar nominated doco depicting the human spirit in all its pain and glory deserves all the accolades heaped upon it. I say doco, as the high drama we witness in Honeyland simply couldn't be scripted with the same power.

Our hero is Hatidze Muratova and for 90 minutes we live with her in the rugged plains and hills of Macedonia. She is notoriously the last of the nomadic beekeepers of the land. We walk the range with her as she harvests her honey from the natural cracks and crevices of the rocky outcrops near her ramshackle house. Home to herself and her bedridden mother Nazife. 

A nomadic cattle herding family from hell arrives adjacent to Hatidze's shack. Hussein and Ljutvie Sam support 7 children; they herd, breed and generally mismanage cattle. While existing, all nine of them, out of a dilapidated caravan. Hussein decides to diversify his decrepid enterprise after observing our hero harvest honey in the most meticulous way. She even shows him her techniques, along with giving lessons in sustainability. 

From here our hearts' bleed for this humble, resilient lady. But she is a survivor and streetwise in the best possible way. The National Geographic style of high def. vision, no narration and natural conversation works beautifully here. No surprise that an Oscar nomination was bestowed on Honeyland. Entertainment and enlightenment drips from this beauty. 11GUMS.