I haven’t had a chance to imagine the kind of life I want in my old age, but now, perhaps the answer is to be like Martha. Honey & Moon (2025) takes us on a journey through Martha and Aceng’s heartfelt, simple, and serene love story. They are not a married couple who have lived together for decades. Instead, they met during their stay at the Beth Shalom nursing home when Martha was 79 and Aceng was 75. This led to their marriage.
Directors Navin Dharma and Christopher Erick allow us to feel as if we are having a conversation with Martha herself. In its short duration, Honey & Moon manages to make us take a break from the hectic world to see two elderly people who love each other unconditionally. Aceng, who now had to stay in a wheelchair, does not lessen Martha’s love for him. In Martha’s eyes, love is not about physical perfection, but loyalty and the willingness to stay.
Though it begins in a small, homely space, the film expands to feel vast as it presents a universal reflection on the quest for love. Through Martha, we are invited to understand that love is not just about meeting someone. Love is life. Love is growth. Love is celebrating a never-ending honeymoon. (FadliAwan) (Ed/Trans. Vanis)
Film Details
Honey & Moon
Navin Dharma, Christopher Erick | 15 min | 2025 | Banten, Indonesia
In Competition for Student Documentary
Festival Film Dokumenter 2025
