Honey (2013) User Reviews

Human interest drama that treats the viewer as an intelligent being

[euroGary · 8/10 · 8 November 2013]

'Honey' is an Italian/French co-production about euthanasia. A young woman (Jasmine Trinca, who has absolutely gorgeous eyes) helps those seriously ill people who wish to end their suffering to do so. She does this work because she believes it is the right thing to do, although she's no campaigner. But her self-confidence is challenged by Grimaldi (Carlo Cecchi), a middle-aged man who requests her help to die not because he is suffering, but simply because he is tired of life. A relationship of - perhaps - mutual fascination forms between the pair as Honey tries to understand Grimaldi's choice and to convince him to change his mind, while Grimaldi stubbornly insists the whys and wherefores are none of her business - he simply wants to employ her to help him die.

Trinca does well in her leading role, convincing in a detachment that gradually turns into greater emotional involvement in what she's doing. In his role as 'grouchy old man', Cecchi is offered less scope. The film does not seem to judge whether euthanasia is right or wrong, but allows the viewer to make up his/her own mind. The ending is perhaps needlessly soppy, but done in a thankfully low-key way. All-in-all, well worth seeing.

An Interesting Plot

[comicman117 · 7/10 · 22 April 2014]

Honey is a human drama that has a decent plot. The film, which is the directing debut of Italian actress Valeria Golino is a well shot, well-made film, that's only real weakness is just how confusing it can sometimes be. The film deals with the idea of euthanasia, and does not necessarily tell us whether it is a good or a bad thing.

Honey tells the story of Irene (played by Jasmine Trinca) an Italian woman nicknamed Honey who has dedicated herself to helping people who are suffering, by helping them ending their lives. She tries to find ways to make their problems less severe, despite the extreme decisions they do, because she believes it is the right thing to do. When she meets a middle-aged man named Grimaldi (played by Carlo Cecchi), her self-confidence is challenged, as Grimaldi wants her to end his life not because he is suffering, but because he is bored. A mutual relationship formed between the two as Honey sets out to learn why Grimaldi wants to do what he wants to do.

An Italian/French co-production partially shot in Mexico, Honey is a movie that shows real human emotions. The performances in the film help immensely. Jasmine Trinca, the actress, playing Honey shows different moods throughout the film, such as frustration, anger and happiness, and she shows them all very well.

The film itself has an interesting idea for a plot that deals with euthanasia which is banned in most countries and it's not hard to see why. The idea of taking someone's life no matter had bad they are suffering, does not sit well with many people. Honey does not necessarily say that euthanasia is a good thing; instead the film explains why the idea is actually helpful in some ways. Those who are suffering from a disease that they can't cure objectively want their lives to taken away from them. The film, however, also shows us why the idea of euthanasia is potentially dangerous, with Honey, the main character, even questioning such a thing once in the film.

Being a first time director, aside from a short film, director Golino does some interesting camera choices. One recurring motif throughout the film is Honey swimming in the water, which occurs three times during the film. The idea seems to be that water is meant to represent Honey at her most natural state, and that she swims in order to drown out the misery in her life. The soundtrack using both English and Italian songs is also well incorporated. In the scene where Honey is taking her bike ride, the song helps to push the mood of the scene, as we see her going by quite fast on her bicycle.

Honey is not a masterpiece by any means. Some viewers might find the plot to be a little confusing to follow. However, I find the film to be an interesting look at euthanasia and how it affects people.

In case you were wondering whether Italians understand the complexities of dying

[orlando-somera · 8/10 · 8 February 2015]

Jasmine Trinca is Honey, a beautiful young woman enjoying the life of a free spirit, living alone in a beach front apartment in Italy. She seems to be without means but she is in contact with a hospital worker, a friend of hers, who pays her to assist dying patients in their death. She feels she's giving people relief but what she does is illegal.

She's handled all the emotional issues until one of her rules is broken and she's suddenly at risk of losing her moral compass. The movie then chronicles her struggle to maintain through her unexpected friendship with one of her older clients, Carlo Cecchi in a wonderful supporting role.

The movie is affecting and beautifully shot. The acting is mostly Trinca's responsibility and she carries it off so impressively that I couldn't help thinking how she's somewhat reminiscent of a cross between Keira Knightley and Winona Ryder but better than either. Ultimately what I liked best about this film is that it so convincingly matches or exceeds all other attempts to cover this sensitive topic I'm aware of.

The subject is Euthanasia but Jasmine Trinca will give you reason to live another day

[barev-85094 · 10 December 2015]

MIELE, ("Honey") Italy, 2013

Directed by Valerian Golino: Starring Jasmine Trinca (Miele) and Carlo Cecchi (Grimaldi), Viewed at Jameson CINEFEST, Miskolc, Hungary, October 2013: The Italian film Miele had another unusual subject this week, Euthanasia, and a fascinating lead actress, I have never seen before but would like to see much more of after this. Jasmine Trinca is exceptionally beautiful, has a perfect face, globular eyes and slim body, and you simply cannot keep yours eyes off of her -- even dressed as she is in this film unglamorously in jeans, and with boyishly close cropped hair. MIELE is basically the story (third time this festival) of a relationship between a young woman and a much older man; Irene, 31, and Grimaldi (Carlo Cecchi) 74. The heroine, Irene, nick named "Miele" (honey) has an unusual job which requires her to take trips to Mexico to procure dog killer, Latuna, ostensibly a substance "to put down dogs", but actually a poison to put terminally ill patients out of their misery.

The subject is Euthanasia, and the complicated psychology of people who want to end it all. Irene is an illegal suicide assistant and gives the applicants every chance to change their minds, but in the end it is Mr. Grimaldi, a 70 year old man in perfect health but simply tired of living, who will make her change her own mind about the grisly way she has chosen to make a living -- administering illegal drugs and poisons to people who want to die. A bit thin in story line but the hypnotically beautiful lead actress turns it into a compelling sit through; Jasmine Trinca, 31, was the actress playing Irene. The pic was directed by well known Italian actress Valeria Golino, her first turn behind the cameras, a most promising debut to say the least. Trinca, a leading light in Italian films since 2000, received the Italian Golden Globe "Nastro d'argento" best actress award this year for her work in "Miele" and the film itself was screened at Cannes in "Un certain regard" where it won a commendation by the Ecumenical jury, a body whose function is to show support for Good Christian values. One can easily see why since suicide is a mortal sin in the Catholic Church. Ten stars -- Jasmine Trinca will give you a reason to live another day!

*spoilers* What it is to live

[sophieb-35913 · 7/10 · 6 September 2016]

Like other reviewers have noted, this film explores the subject of euthanasia and under what circumstances it may be perceived as justified. When a person wishes to end their life due to terminal illness, it is something that many can relate to, even if they do not wholly condone the choice to die. When a person suffers from mental illness and wishes to end their life, it tends to be viewed differently, and even at the least reactionary stance, with understandable circumspection. Ultimately though, that is not what i think this movie is about.

When the main character (Irene) is confronted with this individual who wants to end his life due to a persistent loss of interest in life and anhedonia rather than illness, it unsettles and catalyzes her deeply. Her experiences with him, and his ultimate choice to end his life, cause her to examine her own sense of living. Perhaps someone else has commented on it, but if they did, I failed to see it--Irene is clearly depressed, to put it simply, and in spite of what she professes about the meaningfulness of her occupation, the way she lives captures an aimlessness, anonymity, and disengagement with life that is called into question through her experiences with this man. Part of why I feel she responds so strongly to his desire to end his life is because it echoes something in herself. The repeated focus on the death of her mother, which led her to assist terminally ill people in ending their lives, coupled with what is presented of her life--as a loner, who, as Carlo implies, appears to have abandoned her own ambitions to live on the sidelines, as a kind of observer--casts Irene's work with the dying as a kind of cop out. This is not to say that there is something wrong with what she is doing or that it isn't valuable, but her motivations in doing it, and in living as she does, seem like one great avoidance of living her own life. It seems like this all goes back to the death of her mother, which she seems not to have ever moved past. At the conclusion of the film, one gets the sense that through her experiences with Carlo, she has found in herself a desire to embrace life. One gets the sense that she has made the choice to live.

Morire con dignità ~ Death with Dignity, Italian Style

[Barev2013 · 10/10 · 14 April 2015]

MIELE (Honey), Italian, 2013, Directed by Valerian Golino: Starring Jasmine Trinca (Miele) and Carlo Cecchi (Grimaldi) Viewed at Jameson CINEFEST, Miskolc, Hungary, October 2013:

The Italian film Miele had another unusual subject this week, Euthanasia, and a fascinating lead actress, I have never seen before but would like to see much more of after this. Jasmine Trinca is exceptionally beautiful, has a perfect face, globular eyes and slim body, and you simply cannot keep yours eyes off of her -- even dressed as she is in this film unglamorously in jeans, and with boyishly close cropped hair. Miele is basically the story (third time this week) of a relationship between a young woman and a much older man; Irene, 31, and Grimaldi (Carlo Cecchi) 74. Irene, nick named "Miele" (honey) has an unusual job which requires her to take trips to Mexico to procure dog killer, Latuna, ostensibly a substance "to put down dogs", but actually a poison to put terminally ill patients out of their misery. The subject is Euthanasia, and the complicated psychology of people who want to end it all. Irene is an illegal suicide assistant and gives the applicants every chance to change their minds, but in the end it is Mr. Grimaldi, a 70 year old man in perfect health but simply tired of living, who will make her change her own mind about the grisly way she has chosen to make a living -- administering illegal drugs and poisons to people who want to die. A bit thin in story line but the hypnotically beautiful lead actress turns it into a compelling sit through ; Jasmine Trinca, 31, was the actress playing Irene. The pic was directed by well known Italian actress Valeria Golino, her first turn behind the cameras, a modt promising debut to say the least.

Trinca, a leading light in Italian films since 2000, received the Italian Golden Globe "Nastro d'argento" best actress award this year for her work in "Miele" and the film itself was screened at Cannes in "Un certain regard" where it won a commendation by the Ecumenical jury, a body whose function is to show support for Good Christian values. One can easily see why since suicide is a mortal sin in the Catholic Church.

Ten stars -- Jasmine Trinca will give you a reason to live another day

Man, Can This Girl Act

[film_ophile · 9/10 · 10 February 2015]

I agree completely with the 3 other reviews. I mostly wanted to rave about this actress, Jasmine Trinca. She is really SOMEthing! She is unusually beautiful and elfin, w/ her Audrey Hepburn haircut, but that attribute is never mentioned in the film, and all the attention is on her laser sharp focus on her mission: traveling, procuring,returning and overseeing her Mexican contraband used by terminally ill people in Italy who wish to end their lives. She takes everything VERY seriously, and it is quite something when she finally smiles, near the film's end. I know using 'girl' instead of woman is not PC, but in this case, she looks soooo young (like 17,even though she was actually twice that old !) That, and maybe her naiveté, made me think of her as a girl.

The very unusual, complex and never explained relationship that develops w/ the 'grumpy old man' is the crux of the story, and the catalyst for change. For me, the film's ending depicted an act that was a true affirmation of Love, and I felt very satisfied by that.Film endings are rarely this successful. But you do have to figure it all out for yourself, because all the visual clues are there for you, but the dialogue never reveals most of what I picked up from watching it. Honey makes for a great conversation piece, about matters that really mean something in how we live our lives. A completely compelling and engrossing experience.

Excellent Character Film

[pc95 · 8/10 · 3 January 2016]

(spoilers) I thoroughly enjoyed "Miele" (aka Honey), an Italian gem of a movie on an important subject matter, assisted Suicide. Handled improperly or without touch a filmmaker could botch a movie about such a divisive matter, but the talented actress Valeria Golino in her directorial debut creates an excellent, introspective piece. Central to making this work is her lead actress Jasmine Trinca turning in a complex, soft, but a bit dark character of Irene. Irene is mesmerizing, not so much due to beauty, but more so due to her questioning. This is one of the better movies I've seen this year; Golino wisely decides not to pull some punches. It is beautifully directed and acted. 8/10 and recommended.

Unmissable!

[zero-705-646155 · 10/10 · 28 February 2022]

Everyone has to watch this movie! Sensational with a spectacular actress, Jasmine Trinc. The story is sure to move you, because each one of us is there. Unmissable!

Interesting and nice

[lbournelos · 9/10 · 13 February 2019]

Avoiding judgement on euthanasia, Mrs. Golino leaves the verdict to the viewer, not enforcing it, though. The two main characters, quite opposite in points (sex, age, philosophy) are charming and I enjoyed them a lot in a smoothly running movie. I agree with the majority of reviewers on the attractive Jasmine, her eyes are pure magic. Her acting is excellent, too. Suggested unconditionally!

Unique main character, satisfying story about life and death

[baharuka · 8/10 · 13 May 2020]

Miele has an interesting and believable main character that pulls you in and keeps you entertained from start to finish. Its story revolving around the contrast between life and feeling alive, and death and the feelings death creates was very well crafted and shot. It's not mainstream but also not too weird to watch. It hits a sweet spot and also leaves a flavor of Italy (and a little bit of Mexico and Turkey) in a good way.