Housekeeping for Beginners

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2:05

Housekeeping for Beginners

R

2024

1h 47m

Drama

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

49 Reviews

56%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

From acclaimed filmmaker Goran Stolevski comes a story exploring the universal truths of family, both the ones we're born into and the ones we find for ourselves. Dita never wanted to be a mother, but circumstances force her to raise her girlfriend's two daughters, tiny troublemaker Mia and rebellious teen Vanesa. A battle of wills ensues as the three continue to butt heads and become an unlikely family that must fight to stay together.

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Critics Consensus

Applying a fresh coat of paint on a chosen family story, Housekeeping for Beginners makes for a cozy, uplifting watch.

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Johanna Schneller

Globe and Mail

04/12/2024

In lesser hands, this chaos might tumble into melodrama or farce. But Stolevski’s actors deliver such naturalistic performances, and he writes such specific dialogue...

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Amy Nicholson

Washington Post

04/11/2024

2.5/4

By the end, we’ve soaked up something of modern Macedonia and had our own cultural standards put to the rack.

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Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

04/10/2024

3.5/4

Stolevski creates a wonderful group of flawed but understandable characters and then illustrates just how brave they are as they pull together to negotiate and overcome treacherous encounters.

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David Bax

Battleship Pretension

Mar 28

Nobody’s perfect in Housekeeping for Beginners but Stolevski’s embrace of that fact reflects the kind of values I can get behind.

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Codie Allen

Geek Vibes Nation

07/20/2025

8/10

Housekeeping For Beginners emerges as a meticulously honed creation, a testament to Stolevski's unwavering commitment to his craft.

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Anna Hoang

Boston Hassle

07/13/2025

3/5

Despite its loosely drawn margins, HOUSEKEEPING FOR BEGINNERS is in step with Stolevski’s palette for kinship in unusual circumstances.

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Marisa

04/20/2024

Not my cup of tea. Left before it was over.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 06/28/2025

Pride in 1 hour and 47 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Some Teen Drinking, Sexual Content and Language Throughout!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $241,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Michael C

@Coxmjc23 06/14/2025

A wonderful extraordinary film!!! A must see!!!

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Michael V

@RT01374702 02/18/2025

Home is where you belong. Housekeeping for Beginners (Macedonian: Domaḱinstvo za početnici) is a 2023 drama film written, directed and edited by Goran Stolevski 🎥 Can’t recommend it. Meh, it passed the time. Sort of. 😕 Dita, who, despite never aspiring to be a mother, finds herself compelled to raise her girlfriend’s two daughters—Mia, a tiny troublemaker, and Vanesa, a rebellious teenager. As their individual wills clash, a heartwarming story unfolds about an unlikely family's struggle to stay together.

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Mario C

@RT00568997 06/10/2024

Just another LBGTQ picture....could have been good, but it was TERRIBLE.

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Laurie F

@RT24334183 05/09/2024

This is one of my favourite films of the year. I loved the cast, the direction, the cinematography and the heart and soul of this film. Truly amazing performances and an invisible shooting crew. A real triumph and a reminder of how great small films can be.

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Goran Stolevski

Director

Anamaria Marinca

Dita

Alina Serban

Suada

Samson Selim

Ali

Vladimir Tintor

Toni

Mia Mustafa

Vanesa

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Housekeeping for Beginners: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

From acclaimed filmmaker Goran Stolevski comes a story exploring the universal truths of family, both the ones we're born into and the ones we find for ourselves. Dita never wanted to be a mother, but circumstances force her to raise her girlfriend's two daughters, tiny troublemaker Mia and rebellious teen Vanesa. A battle of wills ensues as the three continue to butt heads and become an unlikely family that must fight to stay together.

Director: Goran Stolevski
Producer: Marija Dimitrova, Klaudia Śmieja, Ankica Juric-Tilic, Beata Rzezniczek, Milan Stojanovic, Blerta Basholli
Screenwriter: Goran Stolevski
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Industria Film, Common Ground Pictures, SENSE Production, Causeway Films, List Production, Film i Väst, Madants, Kinorama
Rating: R (Some Teen Drinking|Sexual Content|Language Throughout)
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: Macedonian
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 5, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 7, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA): $241.0K
Runtime: 1h 47m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital