Polygamy and women’s rights might not seem like the most obviously parallel themes, but for director Robert Lemelson, they can’t be separated, via his upcoming documentary "Bitter Honey." And today we have the exclusive trailer for the movie, which shines a light into an obscure corner of the world.
The film follows three polygamous families in Bali, Indonesia, over a period of seven years, where psychological manipulation, infidelity, domestic violence, and economic hardship all play major roles. "I overcame some initial hesitance to start a project about polygamy because, trained as an anthropologist, I was reluctant to portray a kind of marriage that certain audiences might judge negatively," Lemelson said in his director’s statement. "But I soon realized that the emotional stories these wives have to tell held a powerful message about the relationships between men and women and the ways social rules and structures can put women at a disadvantage—or even trap or subjugate them."
Fascinating and undoubtedly important, this is a doc you’ll want to keep an eye out for. "Bitter Honey" opens in Los Angeles on October 3rd and in New York and several other cities on October 31st. Watch below.