Honeyland is a 2019 documentary film that tells the story of Hatidze Muratova, the last traditional female beekeeper in Europe, who lives in the remote village of Bekirlija in North Macedonia. Hatidze follows a traditional practice of beekeeping that requires her to leave enough honey for the bees to survive the winter, while still being able to harvest honey for herself.
The film focuses on Hatidze's solitary life in the beautiful but harsh landscape, and her relationship with her bees, which she calls her "sisters". Her peaceful existence is disrupted when a nomadic family, with their herd of cattle and chaotic lifestyle, moves into the neighboring house and begins to practice a modern method of beekeeping which involves taking all the honey, without leaving any for the bees.
As the new beekeepers irresponsibly harvest honey, without regard to the health of the bee colonies, Hatidze's way of life and her bees are threatened. With her trusty donkey and a drum of honey, Hatidze tries to teach the newcomers, especially the father and son, about the importance of bee welfare and how to practice responsible beekeeping. However, her efforts are futile, as they are more focused on making a profit for themselves.
The film is a stunning portrayal of the balance between humans and nature, and how a small disruption can have disastrous effects. It won several awards, including the World Cinema Documentary Grand Jury Prize, at the Sundance Film Festival in 2019.