Honeydew

27th TIDF: European Premiere

Honeydew, a remote mountainous corner in California, was converted to a refuge during the late 1970s for a group of people yearning for a life of freedom, without restrictions. For many years, the illegal cultivation of cannabis was the primary means of making a living until 2016 when the state of California legalized cannabis for pharmaceutical and recreational use. As a result, Honeydew was transformed; businessmen began streaming in, seeking to exploit the new industry, thus threatening the livelihood of traditional local growers. The film starts by painting the portraits of the former inhabitants of the settlement, reminiscing about the innocent ambience and the utopia they once lived in. Contrastingly, the newcomers lay the emphasis upon entrepreneurship and the new dynamic that has been created. Through this polarity, the film offers a contemplative glimpse into a world that is changing radically.