Set in South Carolina during the turbulent Civil Rights era in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees is the moving tale of Lily Owens, a 14 year-old girl who is haunted by the death of her late mother. To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father T. Ray, Lily flees with her housekeeper and only friend Rosaleen, to a town which she hopes will hold the secret to her mother's past. Armed with only a postcard belonging to her mother, Lily’s hunt leads her to the bee-keeping Boatwright sisters, August, May and June...

Based on the award-winning novel of the same title by Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees revolves around Dakota Fanning's character Lily, as she tries to get in touch with the past. When Lily was young she accidentally shot and killed her mother. Her father, a drunken, violent man constantly punishes Lily. Looking through some of her mother's possessions Lily is captivated by a religious picture depicting a black virgin Mary. Lily decides to leave her violent father when their maid, Rosaleen, is beaten by white men for being disrespectful.

The two set off on a road trip together and end up stopping at a small town to pick up supplies. While browsing through a store Lily sees a row of honey jars, all of which have the picture of a black Virgin Mary that she was so intrigued by in her mother's possessions. She discovers that a nearby family of women make the honey themselves and Lily decides to go there in search of answers. Lily and Rosaleen are taken in by the family and Lily finally feels like she's where she belongs. But why was her mother so fond of the picture that adorns the family's honey pots? And what are the family keeping from Lily?

This movie has an impressive line up of actors including Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah and Alicia Keys. It's amazing how well cast everyone is here. Queen Latifah is her usual loveable self and Fanning does well to hold her own in the touching scenes she has with her.

Extras include two audio commentaries (one with writer-director Gina Prince-Blythewood, producers Lauren Schuler Donner and Joe Pichirallo, and actors Dakota Fanning and Queen Latifah, the other with Prince-Blythewood and editor Terilyn Shropshire); Deleted Scenes (10 min, 09 sec collection of eight deleted scenes with optional audio commentary with Prince-Blythewood and Shropshire); Adaptation: Bringing The Secret Life of Bees to the Big Screen (12 min 32 sec featurette); The Women and Men of The Secret Life of Bees (16 min 23 sec featurette) Inside the Pink House with Sue Monk Kidd (10 min 12 sec featurette which tours the set); Life on the Set (9 min 05 sec); and The World Premiere (3 min 27 sec).

This is a beautiful movie which will stay with you long after the credits roll.

8

Nick Smithson