In a forgotten corner of North Macedonia’s mountainous countryside, Honeyland introduces us to Hatidze, a lone beekeeper living in perfect harmony with nature. Her rule is simple and poetic: “Take half, leave half.” But this delicate balance is shattered when a chaotic, noisy family moves in next door, bringing modern greed and exploitation to the fragile ecosystem Hatidze has protected.

Shot over three years, this observational documentary unfolds with the pacing and intimacy of a quiet drama, yet speaks volumes about environmental collapse, rural abandonment, and the erosion of ancestral knowledge. Hatidze’s world, filmed in warm golden tones, is both timeless and vanishing, and her resilience in the face of intrusion becomes a subtle act of resistance.

What sets Honeyland apart is its lack of narration and interviews — it lets moments breathe, relying solely on images, silences, and gestures. It’s a study in patience, both in subject and form, reflecting the rhythms of traditional life in a world moving too fast to notice what it’s losing.

Nominated for two Academy Awards (Best Documentary and Best International Feature), Honeyland is a rare cinematic gem that blurs the line between documentary and fiction, ecology and human drama. Through the eyes of one woman and her bees, it tells a universal story of displacement, dignity, and decay.