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Movie Description
After residing on the New York Times best seller list, Sue Monk Kidd's beloved novel now moves to the silver screen. Set in 1964 South Carolina, THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES follows Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning), a young teenager whose mother died and whose distant father (Paul Bettany) seems nearly as far away. So Lily finds comfort in her friendship with her caretaker, Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson). The unlikely pair escapes to a town where they stay with the Boatwright sisters (Queen Latifah, Sophie Okonedo, and Alicia Keys), who show Lily the wonders of beekeeping., Book club favorite THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES more than just survives its transition to the screen. Thanks to its strong cast, this female-centric drama thrives. Dakota Fanning stars as Lily, a 14-year-old girl living with her abusive father (Paul Bettany) in South Carolina in 1964. Lily struggles with a burden of guilt after she accidentally killed her mother a decade before, and she longs for knowledge of the woman. When the family's caretaker Rosaleen (Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson) is arrested after standing up to a group of violent white men, Lily seizes the opportunity to run off with Rosaleen and search for clues to her mother's life. They arrive at the home of the Boatwrights, a trio of black sisters. Motherly August (Queen Latifah) cultivates the state's most coveted honey, June (Alicia Keys) focuses on her music and on rebuffing the advances of an ardent suitor (Nate Parker), and childlike May (Sophie Okonedo) struggles to stay happy in the turbulent time. But in a still-racist world where the Civil Rights Act has just been passed, the Boatwrights' home acts as a haven for Lily as she searches for information about her mother's past.
The heavy drama could've presented a challenge for Fanning, who has gone beyond the role of a little girl, but she does a fine job. The other actresses in the film, especially Latifah and Okonedo, shine without overpowering the other performances. Bettany departs from his usual charming roles and melts into the difficult part of Lily's violent father. In the spirit of past favorites such as THE COLOR PURPLE and CORRINA, CORRINA, THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES presents a gripping look at the South in the 1960s with a nice balance of laughter and tears.
Industry Reviews
"The ensemble cast is the film's strongest asset....Those who were moved by the book are likely to find this adaptation affecting and emotionally satisfying."
USA Today - Claudia Puig (10/17/2008)
"One of the pleasures of the film is that the themes don't hit you over the head....There are some deeply emotional moments..."
Premiere - Priya Jain (10/24/2008)
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