IMDb > Bee Season (2005)
Bee Season
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Bee Season (2005) More at IMDbPro »

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Bee Season (2005) -- A wife and mother begins a downward emotional spiral, as her husband avoids their collapsing marriage by immersing himself in his 11 year-old daughter's quest to become a spelling bee champion.
Bee Season (2005) -- Clip: There's a girl at the gate
Bee Season (2005) -- A wife and mother begins a downward emotional spiral, as her husband avoids their collapsing marriage by immersing himself in his 11 year-old daughter's quest to become a spelling bee champion.
Bee Season (2005) -- AllTrailers.net - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
5.6/10   3,904 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Writers (WGA):
Myla Goldberg (novel)
Naomi Foner (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Bee Season on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
17 November 2005 (Australia) more
Genre:
Drama more
Tagline:
Words may define us, but it's love that connects us. more
Plot:
A wife and mother begins a downward emotional spiral, as her husband avoids their collapsing marriage by immersing himself in his 11 year-old daughter's quest to become a spelling bee champion. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(13 articles)
Film: Review:Uncertainty
 (From The AV Club. 12 November 2009, 12:08 PM, PST)
[TV] Fraggle Rock: A Merry Fraggle Holiday
 (From JustPressPlay. 10 November 2009, 12:28 PM, PST)
User Comments:
A Film to be Viewed with a Thirsty Mind more (67 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Richard Gere ... Saul

Juliette Binoche ... Miriam

Flora Cross ... Eliza

Max Minghella ... Aaron

Kate Bosworth ... Chali

Corey Fischer ... National Spelling Bee Pronouncer
Sam Zuckerman ... National Spelling Bee Judge
Joan Mankin ... Ms. Bergermeyer
Piers Mackenzie ... Dr. Morris
Lorri Holt ... Ms. Rai
Brian Leonard ... Mr. Julien
Jamal Thornes ... Wiseacre Boy's Mate

Kathy McGraw ... Regional Bee Pronouncer
John Evans ... Regional Bee Judge

Alisha Mullally ... Young Miriam
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, a scene of sensuality and brief strong language.
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
104 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | Hebrew
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS
Certification:
Netherlands:AL | Mexico:B | Singapore:NC-16 | Brazil:12 | Argentina:13 | France:U | Sweden:Btl | Australia:M | Finland:K-7 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #40910) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:LH (video rating) | South Korea:12 | UK:12A
Filming Locations:
1075 Mariposa Avenue, Berkeley, California, USA more
Company:
Bee Season Productions Inc. more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Dakota Fanning was originally going to play Eliza, but directors thought that Flora Cross looked like Juliette Binoche and selected Cross instead. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: When Aaron goes to Church, after the priest says "This is the Lamb of God...etc" Catholics should answer: "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed". People in the Church do not respond to the priest, but go directly to receive Communion, and it is very clear that the ceremony going on is Catholic more
Quotes:
Saul: There are people who believe that letters are an expression of a very special primal energy and when they combine to make words they hold all the secrets of the universe...
Saul: Remember the Vikings?
Saul: [Takes a green apple] Ok, Vikings called this "aepli".
Saul: Now when they took it across the sea in their ships it became "apfel".
Saul: Crossed another border, it became "appel".
Saul: By the time it got to us it was "apple".
Saul: Its spelling contains all of that.
Saul: It holds its history inside it.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee: (2005-11-14)" (2005) more
Soundtrack:
Violin Concerto in E Major BWV 1042 more

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
40 out of 53 people found the following comment useful.
A Film to be Viewed with a Thirsty Mind, 7 April 2006
Author: gradyharp from United States

BEE SEASON is a strange little film that seems to polarize the public. Though many have dismissed it as fragmentary and superficial, taking the time to bear down on the issues merely touched upon yields an emotional as well as spiritual experience not often found in films. With a cast that includes Juliette Binouche and Richard Gere there should be a hint there may be more to the film than a quick glance might reveal.

Based on the highly successful novel by Myla Goldberg the story enters the household of a family of four: Saul (Richard Gere) is the father who is a professor of spiritual studies; Miriam (Juliette Binouche) is the mother suffering with demons from her past loss of her parents as a child leading her to grow without an intact family; Eliza (Flora Cross) is the daughter who seems content to watch TV instead of paying attention to her schooling; and Aaron (Max Minghella) is the son who excels at playing the cello and who is the focus of his father's life. When it is discovered that Eliza has a penchant for spelling and wins a spelling bee the focus of this family abruptly changes. Suddenly Saul moves his attention to Eliza, convinced that she has the power of the influx of God-knowledge (shefa) described by the Kabbalist Abraham Abulafia. This leads to his prepping her for her constant victories at spelling bees, but it also leaves Aaron without focus and he responds by seeking first Christianity then Hare Krishna for the meaning of his life. At the same time Miriam becomes more isolated and secretive and enters a state of depression that reflects her childhood loss and the need to accumulate 'things' in a number of ways that border on mental breakdown.

The film is best viewed, by the way, by first watching the featurette about the reasons for the making of the film - a wise commentary that gives us enough philosophical background to appreciate the message of the story that seemingly has eluded directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel. Watching the explanation of how religions all act to provide frameworks that should help individuals to piece together the fragments of existence that have been given to us as our lives serves to bring into focus how each of the four characters in this story is each on that journey for meaning. Once viewed, this featurette makes the movie far more meaningful and enjoyable.

The screenplay by Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal (yes, the mother of Maggie and Jake) is minimalist in technique of writing, giving just enough information about the big questions to make us work to paste the story together. The cinematography by Giles Nuttgens and special effects by Sean House are used extraordinarily well to underline the mysticism that permeates the film's story. Peter Nashel's musical score accompanies the otherworldly atmosphere that helps to bring the audience into the mood of the film.

This may not be a great film, but it is a unique one that calls upon the audience to think and free-associate with the characters, each of whom is well enacted by a strong cast. Well worth viewing. Grady Harp

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