Honeyland

This is documentary or movie not about the bees, not about the honey, not even about the main character, but about life itself. An extraordinary movie which is representing every single aspect of somebody's or our everyday lives. So touching, so pure, also sad, but on the other hand so real, that makes you think deeply about your existence. Really touched my mind and soul.

'Science Fiction' is the best way to describe this documentary about a beekeeper in North Macedonia who lives a peaceful existence with her elderly mother and her bees until new neighbors arrive with their 6 kids in a mobile home. 'Science Fiction' because everything about these people and their lives is aggressively alien and bears absolutely no similarities to our world. Watching this woman living in her hut with her mother, a woman with half a face who hasn't seen the sun in 3 years and has ethereal rice paper skin and giant hands that look like an albino peahen's tail feathers feels like watching life on another planet. Or watching the neighbors let their children play with bucking bulls, get stung by bees while ignoring all advice or nearly drown in the river as we watch on feels like watching tales from an alternate universe. And like Science Fiction, the striking beauty of this story will teach you absolutely nothing, except maybe there is so much life we cannot begin to fathom that exists just beyond the borders of our understanding.