HONEYJOON is being shown at AFI.
Persian-Kurdish Lela (Amira Casar) and her sensual American daughter June (Ayden Mayeri) travel to a romantic Azorean island, for the one-year anniversary of Dad’s death.
One of the most popular film institutions in the United States is the American Film Institute. Every year, they organize a film festival. This year too, they are organizing the American Film Institute Fest 2025. Various films are being and will be screened there. One of those films is titled 'Honeyjoon'.
Persian-Kurdish Lela (Amira Casar) and her sensual American daughter June (Ayden Mayeri) travel to a romantic Azorean island, for the one-year anniversary of Dad’s death. They planned this trip to be together, but Lela & June have opposite views about why they’re there, how to grieve, and June’s tiny bikini. Surrounded by honeymooners, doom-scrolling for Woman Life Freedom, and taken on a tour by their hot philosophical guide, João (José Condessa); Lela and June find each other… coming back to life.
Director Said Lilian T. Mehrel, I feel art and humor are about recognizing truth. Seeing yourself and life reflected back at you
so honestly, it catches you off guard; mirroring your secret desires and familiar feelings. An
inside joke for us all, revealing our shared humanity.
HONEYJOON is a story about Lela and June, their trip, their grief, their connection to Woman Life Freedom (the Persian movement for women to be free)… but underneath it all, it’s a
universal story about trying to enjoy life, despite everything. It’s about women reclaiming their
pleasure; about being free in your body; about living with grief; about trying and failing to flirt. It’s about being human.
Comedy and meaning live in contrast. Sensual visuals are juxtaposed with reality. It’s not some romantic summer trip. Ok, maybe a little romance…
Lela discovers that her pain also gives her perspective for joy. June wants to run from grief towards life, but finds that feeling alive means feeling… all of it.
When my beautiful, life-loving dad died, I wondered — could I ever really enjoy life again? As
Lela and June reclaim the pleasure of living, with all that it holds, I want to take audiences on
that ride too.
HONEYJOON celebrates being alive, filled with light and shadow and the little glimmers in between.
Noted, Written & Directed by Lilian T. Mehrel
Producers: Andreia Nunes, Lilian T. Mehrel, Wonder Maria Filmes, Bärli Films
Production Companies: Wonder Maria Filmes, Bärli Films, Screenwriter: Lilian T. Mehrel,Director of Photography: Inés Gowland,Starring Ayden Mayeri & Amira Casar, José Condessa,Tribeca AT&T Untold Stories Award 2024 Winner.