'Bees' a tear-jerker
Ashley Fuquay
Issue date: 11/13/08 Section: Entertainment
If you are at the movie theater this week and you don't want to watch a violent action film or anything animated, I highly suggest seeing "The Secret Life of Bees."
The film is set in South Carolina in 1964 when 14-year-old Lily Owens, played by Dakota Fanning ("Hide and Seek," "Man on Fire,") runs away from her abusive father, played by Paul Bettany ("Fire Wall," "Wimbledon") with her caretaker Rosaleen, played by Jennifer Hudson ("Dream Girls," "Sex and the City.")
Lily has one clue to unlock the mystery of her dead mother, the label off of a jar of honey with a black Virgin Mary pictured on it.
As Lily discovers the source of the peculiar label, she is surprised by how intelligent and independent the Boatwright sisters who run the company are Lily and Rosaleen begin living with the sisters under the pretense that they are just passing through.
Lily becomes an apprentice under the oldest sister August, played by Queen Latifah ("Beauty Shop," "Last Holiday") in the bee-keeping business that the sisters run from their home. Lily finds solace in caring for the bees and begins to remember repressed memories. (Sorry, I will not spoil those details for you.)
Lily and Rosaleen become part of the family with the sisters August, May, played by Sophie Okonedo ("Scenes of a Sexual Nature," "Tsunami: The After Math") and June, played by Alicia Keyes in her big screen debut. Lily even has her first crush on August's assistant Zach, played by Tristan Wilds in his first on-screen film since breaking away from HBO's "The Wire."
This film touches on a lot of issues that were controversial at the time. The main theme is interracial relationships of any kind.
The big-name cast put on a great performance and I would not be surprised if this film won an Academy Award.
Warning: This movie is a big tear-jerker, so bring tissues.
I definitely suggest audience members bring their mom, sisters and friends. This film is definitely for the girls. It definitely deserves a whole-hearted five stars in my book.
The film is set in South Carolina in 1964 when 14-year-old Lily Owens, played by Dakota Fanning ("Hide and Seek," "Man on Fire,") runs away from her abusive father, played by Paul Bettany ("Fire Wall," "Wimbledon") with her caretaker Rosaleen, played by Jennifer Hudson ("Dream Girls," "Sex and the City.")
Lily has one clue to unlock the mystery of her dead mother, the label off of a jar of honey with a black Virgin Mary pictured on it.
As Lily discovers the source of the peculiar label, she is surprised by how intelligent and independent the Boatwright sisters who run the company are Lily and Rosaleen begin living with the sisters under the pretense that they are just passing through.
Lily becomes an apprentice under the oldest sister August, played by Queen Latifah ("Beauty Shop," "Last Holiday") in the bee-keeping business that the sisters run from their home. Lily finds solace in caring for the bees and begins to remember repressed memories. (Sorry, I will not spoil those details for you.)
Lily and Rosaleen become part of the family with the sisters August, May, played by Sophie Okonedo ("Scenes of a Sexual Nature," "Tsunami: The After Math") and June, played by Alicia Keyes in her big screen debut. Lily even has her first crush on August's assistant Zach, played by Tristan Wilds in his first on-screen film since breaking away from HBO's "The Wire."
This film touches on a lot of issues that were controversial at the time. The main theme is interracial relationships of any kind.
The big-name cast put on a great performance and I would not be surprised if this film won an Academy Award.
Warning: This movie is a big tear-jerker, so bring tissues.
I definitely suggest audience members bring their mom, sisters and friends. This film is definitely for the girls. It definitely deserves a whole-hearted five stars in my book.
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