Review by / RM @ouchmagazine
When it comes to blending complex emotions, humor, and the rawness of human connection, Honeyjoon emerges as a delightful yet poignant cinematic gem. Directed with a keen eye for both humor and heartbreak, this film takes the viewer on an unexpected journey, balancing grief with the universal themes of love, identity, and the ties that bind us—no matter how strained or tangled they may be.
The premise of Honeyjoon is deceptively simple: a mother-daughter duo—Lela (Amira Casar), a passionate Persian-Kurdish woman, and her American-born daughter June (Ayden Mayeri)—embark on a trip to an idyllic Azorean island to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the death of Lela’s husband. But as anyone who’s ever tried to navigate the terrain of a mother-daughter relationship can attest, simplicity is never the whole story.
From the moment Lela and June step off the plane, it’s clear that their emotional baggage comes with its own set of complications. The film sets the stage with a stunning backdrop of ocean vistas and sun-soaked landscapes. And yet, the true tension simmers beneath the surface as Lela and June are forced to confront their very different approaches to grief. For Lela, the journey is a solemn remembrance of her late husband, a ritual of mourning she carries with quiet dignity. For June, the trip feels like a reluctant celebration of a life lost—a sort of emotional reboot amid the overwhelming pressures of adult life.
The generational clash is nothing new, but Honeyjoon brings it to life with a refreshing level of vulnerability. Lela’s old-world, traditional grieving rituals clash with June’s more liberated, often disarmingly blunt, approach to both mourning and living. And then, of course, there’s the matter of June’s ever-present tiny bikini, which feels like a metaphor for her larger struggle to reconcile her free-spirited nature with the legacy of her mother’s cultural expectations.
What makes Honeyjoon so compelling, however, is not just the relationship between these two women but the ways in which the film explores themes of sensuality, freedom, and the search for self-identity in a world that often forces us to compartmentalize our lives. As the duo spends time surrounded by honeymooners on the island, they are constantly reminded of love in its most idealized form. But the reality of their fractured family dynamic challenges that fantasy in ways both tender and hilarious.
In this landscape, the film’s third key player is João (José Condessa), the island’s impossibly charming and philosophically inclined tour guide. With his disarmingly flirtatious banter and sharp intellect, João serves as a kind of romantic mirror—reflecting the hopes, desires, and regrets of both women as they navigate their own healing processes. Whether he’s sparking flirty tension with June or leading poignant discussions about freedom, João proves to be more than just eye candy—he’s a catalyst for emotional growth.
The performances in Honeyjoon are utterly captivating. Amira Casar exudes quiet strength as Lela, embodying a mother’s love and grief with remarkable subtlety. In contrast, Ayden Mayeri’s June is both sharp-witted and deeply vulnerable, bringing an irreverent but heartfelt energy to the film. Their chemistry is palpable, and it’s a testament to the script and direction that their relationship feels authentic and multidimensional.
This is a film about unspoken truths, and while it’s undeniably funny at times, there’s an emotional core that will resonate with anyone who’s ever had to grapple with loss, family expectations, or the complexity of reconciling the past with the present. As Lela and June wander through this stunning, otherworldly landscape, they are ultimately journeying toward an emotional rebirth—one that feels earned, raw, and beautifully real.
Supported by the SFFILM Rainin Grant and developed at both the TorinoFilmLab and Cine Qua Non Lab, Honeyjoon is a striking example of the power of storytelling that transcends culture and generation. It’s a film that asks what it means to truly come back to life after loss—and how, sometimes, the path forward is lit by the most unexpected sources of light.
Honeyjoon is a sensual, deeply emotional comedy that surprises in its ability to balance lightness with depth, and in doing so, it delivers a masterclass in navigating the tumultuous waters of love, grief, and identity. A must-see for anyone looking for a film that’s as thought-provoking as it is heartwarming.
Cast: Amira Casar, Ayden Mayeri, José Condessa
