In a deserted Macedonian village, Hatidze, a 50-something woman, trudges up a hillside to check her bee colonies nestled in the rocks. Serenading them with a secret chant, she gently manoeuvers the honeycomb without netting or gloves. Back at her homestead, Hatidze tends to her handmade hives and her bedridden mother, occasionally heading to the capital to market her wares. One day, an itinerant family installs itself next door, and Hatidze’s peaceful kingdom gives way to roaring engines, seven shrieking children, and 150 cows.
Honeyland is part cautionary tale, part intimate and compelling journey into nomadic beekeeping, told with breathtaking cinematography.
The film was nominated for Best Documentary at the 2020 Academy Awards and Independent Spirit Awards, and won the Special Jury Award for Impact for Change at the Sundance Film Festival.
The film is screening as part of our Planting Seeds season, which explores issues around nature and environmental activism. The screening on 4 May is part of a members' event that will include honey tasting.
