Bitter Honey

Released Oct 3, 2014

1h 21m

Documentary

Drama

List

67%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Filmmaker and anthropologist Robert Lemelson examines the plight of Balinese women, for whom polygamous marriages frequently mean psychological manipulation, economic hardship and domestic violence.

Stephanie Merry

Washington Post

It would be nice to know if the troubling images we see are a sweeping problem or just a small glimpse of a minority.

Rated: 2/4

Nov 6, 2014

Full Review

Andy Webster

New York Times

An agonizing documentary examination of polygamy in Bali, Indonesia, from the U.C.L.A. anthropologist Robert Lemelson.

Oct 30, 2014

Full Review

Michael Nordine

Village Voice

Lemelson's interviews can be repetitive in their direct staging, but there's inspiration in his conceit of using a shadow-puppet performance set to gamelan music as interludes.

Oct 28, 2014

Full Review

Jamie S. Rich

Oregonian

You'll end up feeling for the women in "Bitter Honey" and despising the predators who victimize them. Steel yourself upon entry.

Rated: 2.5/5

Nov 28, 2014

Full Review

Maitland McDonagh

Film Journal International

The takeaway: Polygamy is complicated, something the average person could probably figure out without too much heavy thinking.

Oct 3, 2014

Full Review

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dave v

If you've been around Bali for very long, you'll recognize the thinking of many of the people in this film. The culture here has evolved to subjugate Balinese women to men. This film presents a glimpse of some of the admittedly more extreme but not uncommon happenings and the thinking behind it -- women feeling powerless. Very powerful and enlightening.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Robert Lemelson

Director

Robert Lemelson

Producer

Alessandra Pasquino

Producer

Wing Ko

Cinematographer

Chisako Yokoyama

Film Editing

Malcolm Cross

Original Music

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Synopsis

Filmmaker and anthropologist Robert Lemelson examines the plight of Balinese women, for whom polygamous marriages frequently mean psychological manipulation, economic hardship and domestic violence.

Director: Robert Lemelson
Producer: Robert Lemelson, Alessandra Pasquino
Genre: Documentary, Drama
Original Language: Indonesian
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 3, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 10, 2017
Runtime: 1h 21m

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