Bring Your Girlfriends, Sisters, Mothers and Daughters
The Secret Life of Bees
By Serene Ho
Director: Gina Prince Bythewood
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson and Sophie Okonedo
Official website: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/thesecretlifeofbees/
"Don't be afraid.
But don't be an idiot. Don't swat.
Above all, send the bees love,
because every little thing wants to be loved."
Love is what makes the world go round, and love is the underlying force that keeps The Secret Life of Bees afloat.
Set in 1964 in South Carolina, the story begins with 4-year-old Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning) accidentally shooting her mother (Hilarie Burton) dead. Now at the age of 14, she shoulders the guilt on her tiny frame and is stuck in a loveless household where her father (Paul Bettany) perpetuates between ignoring her presence and reigning physical abuse on her.
Lily's caretaker - Rosaleen Daise (Jennifer Hudson), runs away from the household together with Lily after a particular gruesome racial abuse, in search for a better life ahead. They arrive at the small town of Tiburon, South Carolina, which happens to be the one place where Lily will finally gets to learn more about her late mother's life.
There in Tiburon, through a chance encounter, they end up at the house of beekeeper, August Boatwright (Queen Latifah). She welcomes these two strangers with open arms and provides them with a shelter over their head and a job in tow. Staying together with August and her two younger sisters, the strong-headed June (Alicia Keys) and emotional May (Sophie Okonedo), both of them find themselves embarking on a healing journey of self-enlightenment, forgiveness, family and love.
Based on the best-selling novel by Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees on first glance is about racism and the oppression of African-Americans back in the 1960s. However, if you dig deeper into the plot, you'll find a real gem filled with heart, love, and lessons to be learnt. These are the very vital ingredients that many Hollywood shows seem to lack these days.
With a superb cast in hand and a heart-warming storyline, this is one movie that will have you soaking up every bit of honey that oozes out from it, simply because it tastes so exceptionally sweet.
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