MOVIE REVIEW: The Secret Life of Bees

Last night I had the privilege to attend a screening of an adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd’s New York Times Bestselling book The Secret Life of Bees starring Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Tristan Wilds, and Nate Parker.

I must admit that I had very high expectations of this movie simply based on the cast as well as the trailer that had been released. Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life is shaped by her blurred memory of the afternoon of her mother’s accidental death. When Lily’s black “stand-in mother,” Rosaleen, insults three racists in town, they escape to Tiburon, South Carolina, a town that holds the secret to Lily’s mother’s past. Taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters, Lily is introduced to their mesmerizing world of bees and honey.

The movie touches on loneliness and the need to be needed, the search for identity, and Civil Rights, religion, and feminism. All in all – a great movie that should be watched by EVERYONE!

Be sure to watch and support Gina Prince-Bythewood directorial presentation on October 17th in theaters everywhere!