Bitter Honey - Film Screening
VIEW EVENT DETAILSBitter Honey
Dir. Robert Lemelson. 2014. USA/Indonesia. 81 min.
Bitter Honey is a feature-length documentary presenting an intimate and emotionally charged portrait of three polygamous families in Bali, Indonesia. Following these families over a seven-year period, the film portrays the plight of the co-wives, for whom marriage is frequently characterized by psychological manipulation, infidelity, domestic violence, and economic hardship. Living in a society where men have authority in many domains, these women have little voice in steering or protesting the conditions of their domestic lives. Although polygamy is somewhat uncommon in Bali, the film draws attention to women's issues, documents the work of those taking steps to better protect and empower them, and inspires a wider conversation about women's rights in Indonesia.
Post-screening Q&A with director Robert Lemelson and Livia Iskandar, Co-Founder/International Director of PULIH Center for Trauma Recovery and Psychosocial Intervention (Indonesia), moderated by Rachel Cooper, Asia Society Director of Global Performing Arts and Special Cultural Initiatives.
Watch the Q&A on video here.
Reception to follow.
Video: Watch a trailer for Bitter Honey (2 min., 8 sec.):