Silence of the Bees is a thought provoking, emotionally charged film. It's beautifully written and the characters are very strong and real. Jim Beaver and Sharon Garnier did an excellent job portraying the intense relationship between a father and daughter struggling to know each other and come to terms with their own life choices. It made me reexamine my own relationship with my father. Also you have to give the filmmakers a lot of credit for making a film of this quality with little money. From what I know about the making of it, they were able to utilize great talent because of close friendships which says a lot about the cast and crew. These folks really believe in this project. A tour DE force, haunting and unforgettable. I can't wait for the full length film. I'd recommend the Silence of the Bees to everyone.
119 Reviews
Powerfully dramatic in an artful way.
pmremmele25 October 2008
Silence of Bees is a powerful short film that packs an emotional wallop through the performances of the two leads. As I watched the film, I couldn't help but be reminded of the universal struggle between parents and their children. Sharon Garnier is raw and completely open on the screen. Jim Beaver's sardonic portrayal of an alcoholic writer is both an archetype and uniquely individual. The camera work and the editing are flawless. This is real gem of a film. No tricks, no artifice, just pure cinema in an old fashion sense. This film is a testimonial to the idea that simple, pure and profound emotions ultimately have more impact than superficial, contrived plot devices. It deserves to be seen.
Great Short Film!
lovely_lyss21 May 2012
The preview clip somewhat does pull me into the picture. As I watched the preview, I felt like I could see what was happening in the time before the preview and I wanted to know what was going to happen after it ended.
The Actors: Jim Beaver is a stage, film, television actor, playwright, screenwriter, and film historian. He is perhaps most familiar to worldwide audiences as 'Ellsworth'... the gruff, tenderhearted prospector in the HBO series Deadwood. This role won him a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.
Sharon Garnier appears in a wide range of television and film projects, including HBO's Deadwood and WB's Jack & Bobby. Her primary work is in the realm of independent film and theatre. Sharon's recent film portrayal as Alex McKenzie in the independent short film The Silence of Bees found attention in several international film festivals.
The Writers: Joanna Perry-Folino, Screenwriter and Producer Joanna is the Executive Producer of Into The Fire Film and Theatrical Productions, LLC. She is a playwright, screenwriter, librettist as well as a producer. Her short film, The Silence of Bees, (based on the prologue to her stage play of the same title) won the prestigious Accolade Film Award in 2008, an Aloha Accolade from the Honolulu International Film Festival in 2009 and was screened at the Southeast New England Film Festival, The Kodak Screening Room in Los Angeles by Women in Film in April 2009, at the Urban Suburban Film Festival in Philadelphia and The Naperville Independent Film Festival in Illinois where it is an Official Selection. Also the producer of the film!
The Director: Andrew J. Traister's recent production of Waiting For Godot at A Noise Within in Glendale, California, was chosen as a Los Angeles Times Critics Choice. Andrew directed The Actors Playpen's inaugural productions of Lolita and Road To Nirvana in Hollywood. He has directed at The Old Globe Theatre, Alaska Repertory Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, Actors Theatre of Phoenix, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Tacoma Actors Guild, Geva Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, San Diego Repertory Theatre and many more companies across the country.
I liked: The location; the location was really pretty and gave a different spin on the film. The actors/actresses; super into their rolls, felt like they were their character & the relationship between them was great. It was a good short film & I do not have anything really to say negatively.
The Actors: Jim Beaver is a stage, film, television actor, playwright, screenwriter, and film historian. He is perhaps most familiar to worldwide audiences as 'Ellsworth'... the gruff, tenderhearted prospector in the HBO series Deadwood. This role won him a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.
Sharon Garnier appears in a wide range of television and film projects, including HBO's Deadwood and WB's Jack & Bobby. Her primary work is in the realm of independent film and theatre. Sharon's recent film portrayal as Alex McKenzie in the independent short film The Silence of Bees found attention in several international film festivals.
The Writers: Joanna Perry-Folino, Screenwriter and Producer Joanna is the Executive Producer of Into The Fire Film and Theatrical Productions, LLC. She is a playwright, screenwriter, librettist as well as a producer. Her short film, The Silence of Bees, (based on the prologue to her stage play of the same title) won the prestigious Accolade Film Award in 2008, an Aloha Accolade from the Honolulu International Film Festival in 2009 and was screened at the Southeast New England Film Festival, The Kodak Screening Room in Los Angeles by Women in Film in April 2009, at the Urban Suburban Film Festival in Philadelphia and The Naperville Independent Film Festival in Illinois where it is an Official Selection. Also the producer of the film!
The Director: Andrew J. Traister's recent production of Waiting For Godot at A Noise Within in Glendale, California, was chosen as a Los Angeles Times Critics Choice. Andrew directed The Actors Playpen's inaugural productions of Lolita and Road To Nirvana in Hollywood. He has directed at The Old Globe Theatre, Alaska Repertory Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, Actors Theatre of Phoenix, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Tacoma Actors Guild, Geva Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, San Diego Repertory Theatre and many more companies across the country.
I liked: The location; the location was really pretty and gave a different spin on the film. The actors/actresses; super into their rolls, felt like they were their character & the relationship between them was great. It was a good short film & I do not have anything really to say negatively.
Review of film
jannelmachado5 December 2011
The Silence of Bees is a short, 17 minute film that successfully portrays the movies plot and storyline. Being a short movie, The Silence of Bees gets right to the point and does an okay job at including everything the audience wants to see. For me, the movie consisted of many good characteristics, but with the good comes bad. On the other hand, the only negative thing I can think of would be choice of music. The music used for scenes didn't match up to what I was expecting to hear. Overall, I enjoyed this short film and its way of fulfilling many aspects in a short amount of time. I am glad I was able to see this movie through the drama course I am in, because if it wasn't for the class I would have never seen this.
The Silence of Bees worth watching
cathy_colt22 May 2012
The Silence of Bees was a great short film. Jim Beaver and Sharon Garnier did a great job capturing the emotion of a troubled father/daughter relationship. It was clear that they didn't know or understand each other very well. Father/daughter relationships can be so complicated and if not portrayed properly can come across as fake and over acted, but that's not the case here.
I do wish the movie could have been longer. I found myself wanting more backstory about Alex's mom and in her past and present relationships. I wanted to know more about Parker and what made him the way he was. I want to know what the relationship was like between Alex and her dad before her mom went away.
I love the story about how this movie was made. The budget was small and the actors did the movie as favors of the directors. They loved the script and wanted to be a part of the film.
I do wish the movie could have been longer. I found myself wanting more backstory about Alex's mom and in her past and present relationships. I wanted to know more about Parker and what made him the way he was. I want to know what the relationship was like between Alex and her dad before her mom went away.
I love the story about how this movie was made. The budget was small and the actors did the movie as favors of the directors. They loved the script and wanted to be a part of the film.
Review
imbored200221 May 2012
Warning: Spoilers
The Silence of Bees is an emotionally charged film that almost anyone can relate to when it comes to the struggle between parents and their children throughout life. The characters had a lot of depth and Sharon and Jim really brought them to life. The film has wonderful sound and the cinematography was fantastic, you could tell at every angel how the characters were feeling and the use of close-ups', and medium shots were great. The music was fitting for the film and on point. The only thing I didn't care for were the shots with low lighting, it made things hard to see at times. Other than that the film was great and I would recommend it to watch.
An Emotional film with just one issue
xshadowadamx20 May 2012
This movie was interesting, the opening was really neat. The music reminded me of a game I used to play, Final Fantasy X. The close up on the bee's was really nice. The rest of the movie looked like a Soap Opera to me. I'm not a fan of those at all, they don't really grab my interest that well. This movie though had a great emotional impact on me. My dad and I don't get along that well just like Alex and her father doesn't get along. The camera angles and shots really really great, they added to the drama of the movie. The sounds were right on with the sound levels. They weren't overpowering the voice acting, same goes with the music. The only things that drove me crazy was acting of Sharon Garnier, who played Alex. It was terrible to me. She reminds me of Kristen Stewart, the actress who shows no emotions. Also on some parts she just randomly tries to act too hard. The acting of Jim Beaver, who played Parker was great though. He made you feel bad of how he is losing his daughter. He was the key of this emotional film.
Strengths - Camera views, Sounds, music, and emotional impact are all great strengths in this film.
Weaknesses - The acting of Sharon Garnier was terrible to me. She seemed dull at some moments and then others seems like she was acting too much. One camera part that I didn't like was when she was bringing the soup to her dad, where it panned with her.
Strengths - Camera views, Sounds, music, and emotional impact are all great strengths in this film.
Weaknesses - The acting of Sharon Garnier was terrible to me. She seemed dull at some moments and then others seems like she was acting too much. One camera part that I didn't like was when she was bringing the soup to her dad, where it panned with her.
Review of film...
privateryann8 May 2009
The film itself is a powerful portrayal of the struggles between a father and his daughter, and the desire to understand one another. Through the interwoven complexities of their relationship, it becomes clear that each is yearning to find a place in the others life. From the opening credits, this film exposes the beautiful sunset over the endless crashing waves of Barbados. The music accompaniment is both sad and hopeful, which becomes a motif in the film. The close-ups of the bees buzzing and the forlorn notes played from the piano set the stage beautifully for the characterization of Parker and Alex. The camera angles are particularly artful; the close-ups are used sparingly, but when they were used it left a great impact. In these moments, we see the true depth of each character and how they are inextricably linked to one another. There was one scene with somewhat jerky camera movements as it focused on the tray of food Alex brought out – this is probably the only shot that stood out. Each and every shot before (and after) this one flowed meticulously with the film, so it made this shaky shot a little out of place, for me. Other than that, I found myself not wanting the movie to end.
I thought the performances of Beaver and Garnier was incredibly thoughtful and stayed true to the integrity of the characters. I loved the small moments, like the close-up of Parker as he talks to Alex. While he is talking to her, the lights of the surrounding torches send flickering shadows across his wounded face as he tries to express his feelings to her. Another great example of this nuance can be seen when Alex appears proud and defiant at the fact that she chose to become a nurse instead of a writer. It is these small nuances in Beaver and Garnier's performances that make this film so powerful. Each shot is executed with such clarity and cohesion, that I found myself somewhat disappointed when the film actually ended. Honestly, my only negative comment would be on the DVD itself. I ordered it online, but for some reason it could not be played in my DVD player. I eventually succumbed and watched the film on my laptop – for all I know I could have just got a bum copy. Even though the film was short, I really got a sense of the characters and some of their past. I also found myself relating my own experiences with my father to the way Alex handled hers. I thoroughly enjoyed each of the seventeen minutes in this film, but I also think this could be made into a feature length film. That would be an awesome thing to see
I thought the performances of Beaver and Garnier was incredibly thoughtful and stayed true to the integrity of the characters. I loved the small moments, like the close-up of Parker as he talks to Alex. While he is talking to her, the lights of the surrounding torches send flickering shadows across his wounded face as he tries to express his feelings to her. Another great example of this nuance can be seen when Alex appears proud and defiant at the fact that she chose to become a nurse instead of a writer. It is these small nuances in Beaver and Garnier's performances that make this film so powerful. Each shot is executed with such clarity and cohesion, that I found myself somewhat disappointed when the film actually ended. Honestly, my only negative comment would be on the DVD itself. I ordered it online, but for some reason it could not be played in my DVD player. I eventually succumbed and watched the film on my laptop – for all I know I could have just got a bum copy. Even though the film was short, I really got a sense of the characters and some of their past. I also found myself relating my own experiences with my father to the way Alex handled hers. I thoroughly enjoyed each of the seventeen minutes in this film, but I also think this could be made into a feature length film. That would be an awesome thing to see
Deep
dacannonz15 May 2015
The Silence of the Bees was a different look for the a movie and but packed with substance for a short film. The trailer already tells the viewer this is an ordinary daughter and pop conversation. This being a short film and having the trailer only being around two minutes long the title of the movie does not come into play during the impressive trail. Upon watching the short film you see a broken bond repaired as each of the two characters use the professions they love to soothe old wounds created to each other. The title comes into play as the Stinging of the bee was the closure and solution between the struggling relationship of father and daughter.
Great gem
Iamjugornot5 April 2009
After reading the screenplay I thought the movie would be a boring soap opera-esquire film, but I was refreshingly surprised. The relationship between father and daughter took this film to a level of greatness, and the acting was a hit and miss affair. The very simple film showed how powerful and beautiful emotions were, the the art of displaying these emotions not only physically but verbally. Alex Mckenzie, played by Sharon Garnier, puts emphasis on the relationship between herself and her father; through her body language, the tone of her voice, and looks of worry or tension in her face. With these displays the audience can tell this is not a perfect relationship. Jim Beaver also brings a great performance by playing Parker Lam, a very real character with a lot of personality.
There is about one or two shots that felt too melodramatic, such as where Parker gets stung by a bee, I felt the scene ruined the mood and there could have been a better way to incorporate it, but other then these rare occurrences Silence of the bees was a great short film.
There is about one or two shots that felt too melodramatic, such as where Parker gets stung by a bee, I felt the scene ruined the mood and there could have been a better way to incorporate it, but other then these rare occurrences Silence of the bees was a great short film.
great movie
jacobafrancis7 December 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Jacob Francis 12/07/2013 drama-070-0053 Silence of the bees
The use of close up shots were a nice touch which helped me connect with the characters and whoever was in charge of the audio I loved the sound of the ocean which made me seem like I was living on the beach. I really didn't like the ending because I didn't know if he died or not and I really connected with the father so I wanted some closure that I wasn't able to get but I'm sure other people loved that type of ending because its very thought provoking. the actors were really good I enjoyed the fathers sarcastic sense of humor and I was able to pick that up from the script so that was really nice
The use of close up shots were a nice touch which helped me connect with the characters and whoever was in charge of the audio I loved the sound of the ocean which made me seem like I was living on the beach. I really didn't like the ending because I didn't know if he died or not and I really connected with the father so I wanted some closure that I wasn't able to get but I'm sure other people loved that type of ending because its very thought provoking. the actors were really good I enjoyed the fathers sarcastic sense of humor and I was able to pick that up from the script so that was really nice
Great Short Film
jessburton-550-1962618 December 2012
Silence of Bees is a very emotional powerful film that most people could relate to. The director, Andrew J. Traister, does a good job of recreating the screenplay done by Joanna Perry-Folino who created it after having a dream about an old friend she knew whose father was novelist Richard Yates. The viewer is brought into an intimate moment between a grown daughter and her father and the emotional struggle to stay connected to each other. Jim Beaver, who plays the father, does a wonderful job of playing the stubborn father who loves his daughter but has a hard time expressing it. Sharon Garnier, who plays Alex, also does a good job at playing the daughter who has clearing struggled in life. The two of them have an on screen chemistry that has the viewer believing that they are related. The storyline is simple yet complex in its view on what every grown child and parent seems to relate to. Parents do the best they know how and children want to please their parents the best that they know how. The film, as good as it was, could've been made into a longer film to truly capture the audience and connect with the characters more. However, this film is worth watching and the unspoken message is even more powerful than the one spoken.
Thoughts
krystalyna4154 December 2011
Warning: Spoilers
The Silence of Bees started off OK with the showing of the time setting, but I didn't think the lighting of the sun setting and the next close up shot of the leaves and a bee went together. The shot with the bee looked much brighter than it should have.
Sharon Garnier plays a perfect Alex because she has the right uptight look and conflicting emotions between Alex's father, Parker, played by Jim Beaver, who also played his character well. The father-daughter relationship seemed very real. In the beginning, Alex seems like she no longer cares to be living with her father and responds to her father's questions in a tight way, but towards the end, she begins to feel more appreciated and loved by her father.
Because this was a very short film (17 minutes), I felt it left me with many unanswered questions, but I also believe there was enough depth to the two characters that made the film watchable and not boring.
Sharon Garnier plays a perfect Alex because she has the right uptight look and conflicting emotions between Alex's father, Parker, played by Jim Beaver, who also played his character well. The father-daughter relationship seemed very real. In the beginning, Alex seems like she no longer cares to be living with her father and responds to her father's questions in a tight way, but towards the end, she begins to feel more appreciated and loved by her father.
Because this was a very short film (17 minutes), I felt it left me with many unanswered questions, but I also believe there was enough depth to the two characters that made the film watchable and not boring.
Good story, average film
quickstopemployee-13 April 2009
First, let me start off by saying that this is simply my opinion. Art is completely subjective and what one person likes another may not. Overall, the things that "The Silence of Bees" achieves seem to be overshadowed by the things that I saw wrong with it. Starting with the positive things, the script is solid. The characters, as written, are interesting and, even in the short running time, you grow to care about them. As the audience, we get enough information about them to understand their struggle, but not get overloaded with information. The directing seems secure, but it also feels like there was a miscommunication somewhere between the making of the film and the finished product as the quality of the movie rises and falls.
This is where I start to see problems. The acting in the film seems to be unbalanced. It fluctuates from subtle and more internal in one minute to over dramatic and soap-opera like in the next. This makes it harder to care about the characters in film form because they are all over the place. The moments that feel realistic are nice, it's just unfortunate that these moments are trapped in between moments of melodrama. The cinematography is flat. I'm sorry to put it so bluntly, but to me it was true. There was nothing in it that made the film feel alive. All of the shots were simple with no variety. It was a close up of Parker, then Alex's close up, then back to Parker's close up...over and over. Nothing popped. The lighting also felt very uninspired. There was no sense of mood setting and this caused the film to feel bland. The setting also felt fake. I'm not sure if it was shot at an actual location or on a sound stage, but it felt like the latter. If this was true then this could explain the lack of interesting camera set ups, but it still doesn't solve the problem.
To sum everything up, "The Silence of Bees" is an good story, but the film execution isn't as good as I hoped. Filmmakers have to be careful with material like this. It feels personal, so the film should feel personal as well.
This is where I start to see problems. The acting in the film seems to be unbalanced. It fluctuates from subtle and more internal in one minute to over dramatic and soap-opera like in the next. This makes it harder to care about the characters in film form because they are all over the place. The moments that feel realistic are nice, it's just unfortunate that these moments are trapped in between moments of melodrama. The cinematography is flat. I'm sorry to put it so bluntly, but to me it was true. There was nothing in it that made the film feel alive. All of the shots were simple with no variety. It was a close up of Parker, then Alex's close up, then back to Parker's close up...over and over. Nothing popped. The lighting also felt very uninspired. There was no sense of mood setting and this caused the film to feel bland. The setting also felt fake. I'm not sure if it was shot at an actual location or on a sound stage, but it felt like the latter. If this was true then this could explain the lack of interesting camera set ups, but it still doesn't solve the problem.
To sum everything up, "The Silence of Bees" is an good story, but the film execution isn't as good as I hoped. Filmmakers have to be careful with material like this. It feels personal, so the film should feel personal as well.
Great Short Film
BethanyLMadge11 May 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I really liked the cinematography in this film. All the shots even the little ones bring depth and complexity to the characters. Example would be Parker typing angrily or the close ups of both Parker and Alex that gives viewers a window into their emotions. All the over the shoulder shots gave a sense of being that person and engaging into the conversation. The slow sad music helped give an atmosphere of the daughter and father who have had a strained relationship. Jim's acting was spot on as a grumpy old man and I liked Sharon's acting because her stoic look gave off the character she was portraying. Some scenes I had a hard time following the dialogue because they'd bring up something I didn't know about. Overall I think it's a great short film that gives the basis of what film students could look up to achieving.
Reviews
renteriacarina3 December 2016
The Silence of Bees was a great short film, it really dug deep into the relationship of a father and a daughter. What I enjoyed about this film were the actors, the pain and non-verbal quest that were being displayed allowed the audience to sympathize and understand the pain that they were going through. However, the lighting of this film was dark and while there was some good depth to the characters the lighting was not doing the setting any justice. Overall, this film was striving to show a deep relationship in a family and they were successful in doing that. I would recommend this short for anyone, but also for someone looking to explore depth in characters.
great movie! (spoiler alert )
marilyn-a-moreno20 May 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Overall, I really enjoyed the film of Silence of the Bees. The movie had its ups and downs, but from my perspective it had a lot more positive things than negatives. The opening scenes of the film are very beautiful with the ocean and sun on its way down, hiding at a distance behind clouds. I also think that it was a very intelligent way to demonstrate how time had passed by with the other scene of the ocean and how the horizon had purple and orange rays disappearing.
The character who played the father, Parker, had a very rugged look that complimented the characters attitude and personality, which I believe made the film a lot better. I also really liked that the he looked rough and tough, but in the end demonstrated his sweet and tender side to his daughter. It made the connection between the two characters and their relationship as father and daughter more stronger and a bigger impact on the audience.
What I really didn't enjoy about the film was how Alex McKinzie would explode out of no where! Although, I think that it demonstrates how frustrated she was with writing and her fathers pushing of her to do it and the questions regarding it. I felt that at that point in the film she finally released her feelings about not going in the same way of career as her father. It wasn't so much of a negative, but more like on the fence type of thing that could go both ways.
The last thing that I will say that was a negative part of the film was that it was too short for me and left a lot of things in my mind wondering like whatever happened to them after the film finished. For example, I am not sure if I understood it right, but when they were talking about him dying and that she will try to write again after fifteen years of his death and then the bee stung him, I believe it was like if it was going to die at any point without knowing. I just wanted to know more and how they ended up in the end or if she ever returned to writing!
The character who played the father, Parker, had a very rugged look that complimented the characters attitude and personality, which I believe made the film a lot better. I also really liked that the he looked rough and tough, but in the end demonstrated his sweet and tender side to his daughter. It made the connection between the two characters and their relationship as father and daughter more stronger and a bigger impact on the audience.
What I really didn't enjoy about the film was how Alex McKinzie would explode out of no where! Although, I think that it demonstrates how frustrated she was with writing and her fathers pushing of her to do it and the questions regarding it. I felt that at that point in the film she finally released her feelings about not going in the same way of career as her father. It wasn't so much of a negative, but more like on the fence type of thing that could go both ways.
The last thing that I will say that was a negative part of the film was that it was too short for me and left a lot of things in my mind wondering like whatever happened to them after the film finished. For example, I am not sure if I understood it right, but when they were talking about him dying and that she will try to write again after fifteen years of his death and then the bee stung him, I believe it was like if it was going to die at any point without knowing. I just wanted to know more and how they ended up in the end or if she ever returned to writing!
Brilliant Film with Beautiful Character Development
Reena119128 November 2009
Warning: Spoilers
The Silence of the Bees is an award-winning independent film which creates an in-depth view of a relationship between a father and daughter. The film clearly shows the differences between the two protagonists and their inability to agree with certain things in life. Watching this film causes one to examine their own relationship with their father. At first, the scenic scenes may be confusing, but is purposely used for the picturesque views of the setting of Barbados. The actors beautifully portray their characters by accurately depicting the attitudes and emotions that they feel by this somewhat scarred relationship. The film lives up to its tagline, "The bond between a father and daughter is sometimes too strong to be broken - even when they try," by showing the distance created between the characters only will bring them closer. A weakness of this may be that the film does not give too much information as to why their relationship is the way that it is, but strengthens the plot by showing the progress that may have occurred at the end in the touching scene in which Parker writes something to his daughter, Alex on a card. This film truly analyzes and progresses two characters in a short amount of time, which adds to the depth of this film.
Overall, good movie
jazzyj12284 December 2011
After viewing the film, I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. The acting was very good, I especially enjoyed the performance done by Sharon Garnier. The scene was put together really nicely and the shots had significance. The two actors dynamic was on point, it did seem as though they were father and daughter who hadn't had the best relationship. It was a little cheesy and seemed to go too fast for a real connection though, the emotion was portrayed well by the actors but it seemed almost like a soap opera shot. The film seemed to move very quickly, and it was hard to make a complete connection with the story and the characters, but seeing that it was a short film I do believe that they did a good job with this problem. The sound effects were nicely placed, the sound of the typewriter was very clear even when the camera was inside and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The sound of the crickets in the background when they were talking was very fitting and added to the mood of the film. Overall, I enjoyed the film and thought that it provoked deep emotions that are connectible to anyone.
Acting
islandboy0233 November 2008
Silence of Bees is a short story about a father and daughter and the relationship that they share. Overall the acting of the film was good in some parts but lacked in others. The man Jim Beaver who plays the father Parker Lam I personally thought acted phenomenal throughout the short film. He really set that mood as the accomplished writer and father figure. When Jim leans back and a swig and starts talking about how the word happy sounds funny it really seemed as if he was drunk. The woman Sharon Garnier who plays the daughter Alex McKenzie I thought acted just as well or even better. Parts such as such as when she begins crying after her father gives her the note was really convincing. The best part of the short film would have to be the little scene when Lam gets so called "stung by the bee" and Sharon runs over to check him out then shares a drink with him. Throughout the film the scenery was perfect for the dialog between Parker and Sharon because of so many different things. One being the lighting with the time of day and also the candles make it seem more realistic. Everything really seemed to come together from beginning to end. Good short film.
Bonding between father and daughter, two writers.
comradecommissar9 December 2012
Warning: Spoilers
This short takes place on a small Caribbean island between a daughter and her father over the their passion of writing. Alex struggles because she does receive her instant gratification while Parker, her father, wants her to pursue a passion they both share. You see them slowly try to find reason and renew a bond between them.
Jim Leaver did an excellent job at his while Sharon Garnier I felt showed little emotion and was confusing until the half through the film. She could of done a better part with showing more emotion it. I even felt confused in the film because of her. Otherwise, the short film is good enough to check it and see a bonding between father and daughter, between two writers.
Jim Leaver did an excellent job at his while Sharon Garnier I felt showed little emotion and was confusing until the half through the film. She could of done a better part with showing more emotion it. I even felt confused in the film because of her. Otherwise, the short film is good enough to check it and see a bonding between father and daughter, between two writers.
Movie Review click to see more!
jennx243 November 2008
The Silence of Bees clip, which is an excerpt of a possible film in development, despite the relatively low production values compared to many modern Hollywood is surprisingly high in quality. This can be attributed to not only the care that the production team and actors put into it, but mainly displays the strength of the screenplay. Even though it may take place in some faraway location like Barbados, the themes still manage to hit close to home. The strained relationship between Beaver and Garnier's characters is very realistic and very well portrayed by both actors. Beaver is a writer who can only express his feelings in words to his daughter through his work; however, there is a subtlety about his drunken typing that he was able to accurately portray and the underlying communication that is going on between them. This is only a prologue of the entire work that was unable to and is needed to be filmed. Maybe the film is too cerebral for its subject matter to be able to find a Hollywood audience, which is the real shame. Hollywood doesn't make deep films about family interactions. It makes Greek weddings or family road trips with Ice Cube and the kids. Hopefully this movie does not end up in the back of a filing cabinet with the rest of the great screenplays belong.
worth the watch
alvarond14 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This short film was worth the watch and it was nice to see fresh faces because both Jim Beaver and Sharon Garnier were unknown to me despite their work in HBO's Deadwood. I liked Jim Beaver in this film he seemed really comfortable in the estranged father role. Sharon Garnier on the other hand was not as good. She seemed uncomfortable at times and when she spoke with her father her emotions seemed fake. There were beautiful shots of the island and beach but I envisioned the house a little different after I read the screenplay. I envisioned that the house was right on the beach and the yard was just a bunch of sand with a clear view of the ocean. In the film it looked just like a regular old yard. However I did enjoy the film I liked the father daughter talk that started off simple but escalated into a deep argument about Garnier's character leaving. The father easily could have just taken more swigs of his rum and left her alone but instead he showed genuine emotion and really tried to make peace with her before she left for good.
Good camera work but awkward acting
meganbreannamurray12 May 2013
Warning: Spoilers
One of the biggest weaknesses of the film, for me, was the acting . Sharon Garnier, who played Alex, seemed too rehearsed for the scene, and when she "blew up" at her father, it seemed sudden and overblown. It was like turning a perfectly calm conversation into an unnecessary fight. I felt like she wasn't really listening to Jim Beaver, who portrayed her father Parker, in the scene. He was mostly very subdued with his acting, which I believed worked for his character, but Sharon would react by raising her voice and flailing about as if he had done the same thing. She escalated an awkward conversation into a fight without any real reason. It just suddenly happened. It's like they were acting for two completely different versions of the film: Beaver showed a more awkward, laid-back version of their disagreement, while Garnier frequently attempted to elevate the scene to a more dramatic conflict. It was strange and didn't work for me.
I believe one of the film's strengths was the camera work. I enjoyed the lingering close-ups, especially on Jim Beaver as Parker, as they always revealed the hidden or private thoughts of the characters. I watched in fascination as different emotions flitted across Beaver's or Garnier's faces, and the close-ups gave the film an awkward intimacy reflected in the relationship between the father and daughter duo. I also liked the over-the-shoulder shot from early in the film, giving us a view of Parker through the kitchen window. This shot perfectly conveyed the emotional distance between Parker and Alex; they close and yet still so far from each other. The final shot of the rum bottle on the floor was also interesting to me, as it could potentially have many different interpretations. Has Parker given up his excessive drinking because of the possibility of a renewed relationship with his daughter? Is Parker doomed to die because of his alcoholism? This final shot is also interesting because it's not included in the original screenplay and was instead added by the director.
Overall, I enjoyed the /idea/ of the film, but I wouldn't say I enjoyed the film itself. The way the actors' moods clashed really brought me out of the film instead of pulling me in.
I believe one of the film's strengths was the camera work. I enjoyed the lingering close-ups, especially on Jim Beaver as Parker, as they always revealed the hidden or private thoughts of the characters. I watched in fascination as different emotions flitted across Beaver's or Garnier's faces, and the close-ups gave the film an awkward intimacy reflected in the relationship between the father and daughter duo. I also liked the over-the-shoulder shot from early in the film, giving us a view of Parker through the kitchen window. This shot perfectly conveyed the emotional distance between Parker and Alex; they close and yet still so far from each other. The final shot of the rum bottle on the floor was also interesting to me, as it could potentially have many different interpretations. Has Parker given up his excessive drinking because of the possibility of a renewed relationship with his daughter? Is Parker doomed to die because of his alcoholism? This final shot is also interesting because it's not included in the original screenplay and was instead added by the director.
Overall, I enjoyed the /idea/ of the film, but I wouldn't say I enjoyed the film itself. The way the actors' moods clashed really brought me out of the film instead of pulling me in.
Silence of the Bees
iamangeladuong12 December 2010
After viewing it explore what the films strengths and weaknesses are. Be specific. Sound as if you really studied the film and make intelligent criticisms, both positive and negative. Silence of the Bees was a clean short film, however it was a little difficult for me to get into the film. At the beginning of the film, it felt like I had missed an important scene. There was no background information about the characters, how they had got to the house, and their relationship with each other. Other than that, the film had a very good story to it. The film displayed a relationship that was full of tension between a father and daughter. The background music used in the film, was excellent, it help make some of the scenes more intense.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
