If you ever imagined a fairytale about a land where it’s
always summer, and Queen Bee lives in harmony with a kind bee keeper called
August who makes honey taste sweeter than syrup together with her sisters, May
and June, you will be pleased to find out that your daydream has come true.
“The Secret Life of Bees” depicts this superb reverie, although it spices up
the sugary story with a touch of bitterness.
The movie directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood is based on the
eponymous novel by Sue Monk Kidd and reveals a sappy, honey-covered place that dimly
reminds us of 1964’s South Carolina.
It would be off beam to insist that the controversies and difficulties of that period
have been swept away since forever, as the film opens with terrible images
depicting racial-related issues, violent beatings, marital problems, child
abuse, suicide, as well as the threat of execution.
Nevertheless, as “The Secret Life of Bees” approaches its sweet
end, every moment of dread and grief is cloaked in affectionate, curative solace.
Lily Owens, our 14-year-old heroine played by Dakota
Fanning, is very affected by the environment she lives in, as her mother died
in suspicious circumstances when she was a toddler, and she was brought up by
an abusive father (Paul Bettany), whom she calls T. Ray, because she can’t
possibly utter the word “dad.”
However, Lily finds a friend in the warmhearted person of
Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson), a black woman hired by the girl’s father to look
after his home and daughter. Rosaleen gets in trouble when she disobediently
tries to vote. Several racists beat her and, following the incident, she and
Lily decide to run away.
When Lily finds a honey jar whose label features a biblical African-American
Mary, she is drawn to the fairytale house of the Boatwright sisters. Queen
Latifah plays her August role with a noble attitude and an outburst of
affection. Thus, she takes Rosaleen and Lily under her protective bee-like
wing, in spite of the protests of her edgy sister, June, impersonated by Alicia
Keys.
The director makes use of many charming moments so as to portray
the time of peace and happiness the greenhorns enter. In one such scene, May
(Sophie Okonedo), the expressively delicate third honey-making sister, and Lily
attempt to freshen the burning atmosphere and get everyone wet with a hose.
Nevertheless, the cruel world does not stay away forever and
it suddenly interrupts the beautiful life of the five women, who are forced to
face the injustices and prejudices of less unconventional people.
“The Secret Life of Bees” is not only gummy sweet, but also
touching. And you’ll wish for a fairytale ending in the land of forever after.
