Click here to copy URL

The Secret Life of Bees

6.5

3,347

Ratings

Add to lists

where to watch

Flatrate

buy

Pro reviews

Links

Original title

The Secret Life of Bees

Year

2008

Running time

110 min.

Country

United States

Director

Gina Prince-Bythewood

Screenwriter

Gina Prince-Bythewood. Novel: Sue Monk Kidd

Cast

Music

Mark Isham

Cinematography

Rogier Stoffers

Producer

Fox Searchlight

Genre

Drama | Racism. Family Relationships. 1960s

Synopsis

South Carolina, year 1964. Lily Owens is a 14 year-old girl who is haunted by the memory of her late mother. To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father, Lily flees with Rosaleen, her caregiver and only friend, to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother's past. Taken in by the intelligent and independent Boatwright sisters, Lily finds solace in their mesmerizing world of beekeeping, honey and the Black Madonna.

NEW

About similar movies and series:

Similarity over 75%

Similarity between 60% and 75%

Similarity between 40% and 60%

Similarity below 40%

Similar Movies to The Secret Life of Bees

Awards: 2008: Nominated for Critics' Choice Awards: Best Young Actor/Actress (Fanning)

2008: Satellite Awards: nominated to Actress in a Supporting Role.

2009: NAACP Image Awards: 2 awards. 9 nominations

Show all

Critics' reviews

"Above all, it contains characters I care for, played by actors I admire. (...) Rating: ★★★½ (out of four)"

Roger Ebert: Chicago Sun-Times
"The film insists so strenuously on its themes of redemption, tolerance, love and healing that it winds up defeating itself"

A. O. Scott: The New York Times
"Suffused with a golden glow, the movie looks and sounds like a fairy tale (...) Prince-Bythewood makes you care about the characters"

Ruthe Stein: SFGATE
"Thanks to Gina Prince-Blythewood's treacly screenplay and plodding direction, the movie quickly congeals into a mess of sentimental cliches."

Andrea Gronvall: Chicago Reader
"Jennifer Hudson adds some grit to a project that might have worked better as a Hallmark TV special."

Andrea Gronvall: Chicago Reader
"There's a purity, clarity and honesty to this feminist heart-warmer's melodramatic instincts that make it surprisingly moving and satisfying."

Wally Hammond: Time Out
"The source material remains affecting and the cast work hard to add dimension to a lacklustre screenplay. But sadly, it adds up to less than the sum of its parts."

Liz Beardsworth: Empire

Movie Soulmates' ratings: Register so you can access movie recommendations tailored to your movie taste.
Friends' ratings: Register so you can check out ratings by your friends, family members, and like-minded members of the FA community.

Is the synopsis/plot summary missing? Do you want to report a spoiler, error or omission? Please send us a message.
If you are not a registered user please send us an email to [email protected]

All copyrighted material (movie posters, DVD covers, stills, trailers) and trademarks belong to their respective producers and/or distributors.

For US ratings information please visit: www.mpaa.org www.filmratings.com www.parentalguide.org

The Secret Life of Bees

User history