Set against the lush backdrop of the Azores, HONEYJOON is a layered dark comedy that follows June (Mayeri) and her Persian-British mother Lela (Casar) as they travel to a romantic island for a grief anniversary, one year after the loss of June’s father, arriving with very different ideas of how to cope. Surrounded by honeymooners, June tries (and flirts) to reclaim her joie de vivre, while Lela is deep in the dark. When a hot philosophical surfer (Condessa) takes them on a tour, a wildly funny, sensual, emotional journey unfolds—towards connection, catharsis, and coming back to life.

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Video Quality

Honeyjoon comes to Blu-Ray in a 1080p presentation that is truly gorgeous. This story takes place in a stunning location that juxtaposes quite effectively with the grief-riddled mood of the main characters. Even with such sadness and angst, the film cannot suppress the visually rich experience replete with an incredible amount of detail. There are some very bold colors that capture the gorgeous nature of the environment. There is nothing artificially boosted here, but director Lilian T. Mehrel and cinematographer Inés Gowland frame the natural world in a way that makes it come alive. Highlights are handled well with no instances of blooming, and the blacks are deep and do not suffer from crush or compression artifacts. The transfer delivers texture within the natural landscapes and production design that adds welcome depth to the picture. Skin tones are detailed and natural all around. Circle Collective has done an impeccable job with this release.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in the original English that works effortlessly to capture this story. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without ever being overshadowed by the sound effects. Environmental effects flesh out the soundscape of nature and make the world feel more immersive and sonically tactile. The film uses its score and soundtrack in really satisfying ways, which fill the room and set the tone. The sound design is not pushed to the brink, but it remains appropriately accurate with sounds positioned perfectly in the mix. This is far from a fast-paced film, but activity in the low end is felt when appropriate. This is a top-notch release all around. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Director Lilian T. Mehrel provides a thoughtful commentary track in which she discusses the ideas behind certain moments, the experience of shooting on location, the importance of bookending with Super 8 footage, working with the performers, and much more.

Behind the Scenes: A six-minute piece in which Mehrel discusses the inspiration for the film, the themes of the narrative, the production process, and more.

Concierge Casting: A three-minute look at the audition tapes for the performers playing the concierges.

Super 8 Film Memories: A two-minute collection of Super 8 footage.

Whale Watching: A 43-second look at a whale watching trip.

Pitch Excerpts: A nearly six-minute excerpt from the pitch presentation that helped win the contest that funded part of the production.

Image Gallery

Official Trailer (1:37)

Booklet: A multi-page booklet is included featuring a visual essay by director Lilian T. Mehrel

Final Thoughts

Honeyjoon is the type of hilarious and emotional gem we are always looking to discover. Grieving is portrayed in a way that avoids suffocating the narrative, instead choosing to embrace the mixed emotions one can feel when they are processing, reflecting, and attempting to move forward. The painfully authentic mother-daughter dynamics yield some truly laugh-out-loud moments, never pushing the comedy into the realm of the unbelievable. The two central performances are tremendous, always making you feel the shared history between these two through subtle movements and reactions. The movie goes by in a flash, and every moment is a joy. Don’t let this one pass by your radar. Circle Collective has released a Blu-Ray featuring a strong A/V presentation and a nice selection of supplements. Highly Recommended

Honeyjoon is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome/OCN Distribution.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Circle Collective & OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.