A silent, meditative journey through a child's eyes wins the Golden Bear award

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the remote mountains of Turkey, a six-year-old boy searches for his missing father. Honey, the final chapter of a unique reverse-chronological trilogy, eschews traditional dialogue for the immersive sounds of nature. This quiet drama captured the top prize at the Berlin International Film Festival, surprising many global critics.

Directed by Semih Kaplanoğlu, Honey (Bal) serves as the concluding installment of the autobiographical Yusuf Trilogy. While the series began with Egg in 2007 and continued with Milk in 2008, the narrative unfolds in reverse order, with Honey focusing on the protagonist's early childhood. The film is set in the undeveloped, lush landscapes of the Çamlıhemşin district in Rize Province, where the environment acts as a central character rather than a mere backdrop.

The plot follows young Yusuf as he navigates the woods to find his father, a beekeeper whose livelihood is threatened by the sudden disappearance of his bees. The film is notable for its minimal use of music and dialogue, relying instead on the ambient sounds of the forest. Critics have lauded this approach, with Katja Nicodemus describing the work as an existential exploration of childhood, loss, and mourning, while others praised its intimate, dreamlike quality.

Honey premiered at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2010, where it beat 19 other international entries to secure the Golden Bear. This victory marked the third time a Turkish film had claimed the award, following successes in 1964 and 2004. Despite its critical acclaim and a nomination for three major honors at the 23rd European Film Awards—specifically for its direction, cinematography, and overall quality—the film did not advance to the final shortlist for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.

The production was a collaborative effort between Turkey's Kaplan Film Production and Germany's Heimatfilm, supported by various European cultural funds and television broadcasters. It maintains a strong critical standing, holding an 85% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a generally favorable score on Metacritic. For Kaplanoğlu, the win was a significant milestone for Turkish cinema, providing momentum for future creative endeavors.

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