HONEY/MIELE

Italy, 2013, 96 minutes, Colour.

Jasmine Trinka, Carlo Cecchi.

Directed by Valeria Golino.

Honey is the codename for a woman whose work is to assist with suicides. Her actual name is Irene and she is played by Jasmine Trinka. The film has been directed by long-time actress in Italian films as well is American films, Valeria Golino.

For most audiences, the theme of the film will be to response. It is a question of assisted suicide, moral issues, ethical issues, legal issues, psychological issues – for the person wanting to die, for relatives and friends, and, as in the case for Irene, the effect on the person assisting.

The film has an Italian setting, an atmosphere of Italian cities, sense of realism. And, monthly, Irene travels to Mexico to buy the drugs for the assisted suicide procedure.

Irene does have some life, visits with her father, a woman friend, sexual liaison with associates. And she has a contact who gives her the names of potential clients. She visits them at home, explains the situation (also for the audience), notes that they can withdraw at any time. There are several examples of the procedure, the focus on those dying, the focus on those associated, and the camera watching Irene during the process, some compassion, concern.

Ultimately, this gets too much for her, complicated by her association with an older man, Carlo Cecchi, who asks her help, questions her in detail, but does not want an assisted suicide. There is clash, Irene wanting to retrieve the drugs, her returning to his apartment, the conversations, breaking down of barriers, conversations, and a friendship.

This all has an effect on Irene who then wants to withdraw from her work assisting suicides.

With the performances of the central actors, this becomes more than just a film treatise on assisted suicide but helps the audience to appreciate the emotional and psychological demands.

1. The theme of assisted suicide? Moral issues? Legal issues? Psychological issues? For those dying, for family, for those assisting? Compassion? Business?
2. An Italian setting, the city, apartments, streets, cafes, atmosphere? The visits to Mexico? The settings for the assisted suicide? The musical score?
3. The title, the codename for Irene? A sweet-sounding name?
4. Irene herself, her relationship with her father, her studies, her contacts for clients, the travels to Mexico for the drugs, drugs for putting down animals? Three years assisting in suicide? The contact and the discussions, her buying the drugs, the procedure, her explanations, giving the clients the option to pull out at any time?
5. The settings for the suicide, the man with his wife, sitting up, the music? The young man, the vodka, the open window, Irene not staying to the end?
6. Carlo Grimaldi, the contact, his age, attitudes towards life, divorce, the discussions with Irene, her reaction? His detailed questions, autopsies…? His not wanting to kill himself? Her bringing him the drugs, her returning to try to find them? The discussions, her return, the phone calls, her concern, the breaking down of the barriers, the outings, the meal at the restaurant, his visit to her house? The friendship? The importance of swimming for Irene?
7. Irene and her personal relationships, the men in her life, their relationships? Her friend and her questioning?
8. The effect on Irene, her wanting out of her work, the discussions with contact? At home, Carlo’s visit, appreciating the sea? Her going to his house, his previous comment about throwing himself out of his apartment, five floors up?
9. The human and humane portrait, Irene’s questions, the questions for the audience?