Honeyland

THE GIST: An aging beekeeper lives in a remote village with her infirm mother. A lifetime of experience has taught her how best to harvest the honey without harming the bees, but she now watches with apprehension when a large family moves in next door, and proceeds to set up multiple hives. Will her livelihood and lone source of income be threatened?

Honeyland was nominated for both Best Documentary Feature and Best International Feature Film Oscars and well deservedly.

The story is so simple and yet totally engrossing. It's almost like watching a scripted film.

It's actually unfathomable for people like us, used to "modern life" and its comforts and gadgets, to see how people eke out a living in the most dire of circumstances.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Absolutely recommended for everyone, even the little ones, who might benefit from seeing how other people live in the rest of the world.

Grade: 8