Nestled in an isolated mountain region deep within the Balkans, Hatidze Muratova lives with her ailing mother in a village without roads, electricity or running water. She's the last in a long line of wild beekeepers, eking out living farming honey in small batches to be sold in the closest city-a mere four hours' walk away. Hatidze's peaceful existence is thrown into upheaval by the arrival of an itinerant family, with their roaring engines, seven rambunctious children and herd of cattle. Hatidzeoptimistically meets the promise of change with an open heart, it doesn't take long however, before a conflict evolves that exposes the fundamental tension between nature and humanity, harmony and discord, exploitation and sustainability.
The debut feature from documentarians Ljubomir Stefanov and Tamara Kotevska, 'Honeyland' is made with the widescreen sweep of an epic, yet clearly built from an intimate collaboration between filmmakers and subject. With a surprising sense of humour, it's a tough and tender portrait of the delicate balance between humankind and nature, a glimpse at a fast-disappearing way of life, and an unforgettable testament to one extraordinary woman's resilience.