THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES

US, 2008, 114 minutes, Colour.
Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keyes, SophieOkonedo?, Paul Bettany, Tristan Mack Wilds, Nate Parker.
Directed by Gina Prince- Bythewood.

Audiences will find this story very moving. It is a story of women, principally African- American women. the film is based on the novel by woman,, screenplay by woman,, and an African- American director Gina Prince- Bythewood.

The setting is 1964 with glimpses of Lyndon Johnson and Martin Luther King and the signing of civil rights legislation, a context for African- Americans to register to be able to vote. The film also highlights the racism and bigotry of the South, this time in South Carolina.

However, the introduction is to a young white girl, played very effectively by Dakota Fanning who already had made a successful career by the age of 14 and continued into adulthood. In a prologue, we see her, at age 4, accidentally shooting her mother, trying to save her from the brutal treatment by her husband, played by Paul Bettany. 10 years later, her father is aggressive towards her, punishes her, taunts her that her mother was leaving and abandoning her when she was killed. The family have an African- American maid, Rosaleen, played by Jennifer Hudson soon after she won the Oscar for Dreamgirls.

When Lily and Rosaleen leave home, they discover honey with the Blessed Virgin Mary as an illustration on the jar and they go to the house where honey is made, finding a refuge with three sisters. Queen Latifah plays the older sister who manages the hives and honey production; with Alicia Keys as an uptight young woman who is a musician, courted by a young man, played by Nate Parker, but unwilling to say yes to his proposal; and a twin whose sister has died, played by Sophie Okonedo, an emotional young woman with mental difficulties.

The film is very positive in the portrayal of the women, their life, their style, their work on the production of honey. Rosaleen works in house and is accepted as the equivalent of a sister. Lily discovers that her mother had stayed there in flight from her father because August had been her nanny.

There is also an engaging young man, Zach, Tristan Wilds, whom May likes and is attracted to Lily.

The film builds up to a final confrontation between Lily and her father and her resolutely defying him, and staying with the sisters, having experiences which will be the basis for her future writing.

1. The title, the image, the realism about the bees? Symbols for Lily?

2. 1964, Johnson, Martin Luther King, the Civil Rights movement, the signing of legislation? The repercussions in South Carolina, the inherent racism, violence against African- Americans? The slurs, verbal insults? The issue of the boat? The background?

3. The prologue, Lily aged four, her mother and the struggle with her husband, her reaching out to Lily, Lily shooting? Killing her mother? The passing of 10 years, Lily growing up with her father, his brutality, telling her that her mother abandoned her, punishing her by kneeling on the salt? Her life, work, yet intelligent and her potential? Her birthday, his begrudging good wishes? Wanting her mother’s story, his refusal?

4. Rosaleen in the house, her work, the cake for Lily’s birthday? T Roy and his racist attitudes towards Rosaleen?

5. Lily, details of her life, kneeling on the salt, being hurt, the decision to leave, going with Rosaleen, in the street, being accosted by the racist men, the attack on Rosaleen, wounding her? In the hospital, newly arriving, disguising the wound, the escape, getting lifts along the road, walking?

6. At the shop, the experience of segregation for entering or not, seeing the honey, the Virgin Mary and the brand? Getting the information, the decision to go to the house?

7. The house, bright pink, the explanation that this was May’s choice? The three sisters, named after the calendar, August and her warm welcome, Alicia and reservations, May and her delight, bunking in the house shed, the food, the different reactions? The interest in Rosaleen – and her ultimately being called July? Her work in the kitchen, Lily going with August and the detail of working with the bees, the explanations, the Queen, honey, collecting the honey? Extracting honey, putting it in the jars, the labels?

8. Queen Latifah as August, poised, her age, the inheritance, later explanations that she was Deborah’s nanny, the experience of change? June, music, tight personality, aggressive? May, the mental difficulties, the death of her twin sister, April, happy with welcoming people, easily sad, the ladies and the visit, so well-dressed, the story of the statue of Mary, the protection, the gathering, the prayer, touching the statue? May and putting notes in her Wailing Wall? The presence of Neil? June and the relationship? Zach, younger, May interested in him?

9. Rosaleen, the wound, experiencing freedom, the bond with Lily, bonding with May, doing her hair, the work in the house? Her getting May’s room after her death, being called July? The bond with Lily? Her confidence in applying for the vote?

10. June, Neil and his being genial, not to marry, uptight in her manner, her fear, the family encouraging the kissing? Her refusing his proposal, his telling her she was selfish? His leaving? The gradual mellowing? His arrival, her asking him to propose again, her acceptance?

11. Neil, as a person, his age, welcome in the house, the breakfast, working with the bees, with Lily, the relationship with June? His ultimately being happy?

12. Zach, young, his work, his mother in the ladies’ group? Lily talking about success in sport, his wanting to be a lawyer? Going to town, going to the movies, the lynch mob, taking him, the violence against him? Neil, the white lawyer and are going to find him? Bringing him back? The effect on Lily?

13. Lily and her feelings of guilt, the decision to tell August the truth, August knowing about her, the story of August being her mother’s nanny? Having the box with the souvenirs? The pins, the photo? Lily and her delight? Her mother’s staying with August?

14. The arrival of T Roy, his character, initial love, marry, change, his regrets, his wife not wanting to return to him? Admitting to Lily that she had come back for her?

15. T Roy and the confrontation with Lily, his visit, spurning Rosaleen, Lily defying him, his leaving?

16. Lily, her experience, writing the story?