The Secret Life of Bees (2008)

In 1964, a teenage girl in search of the truth about her mother runs away to a small town in South Carolina and finds a family of independent women who can connect her to her past.

Director:

Gina Prince-Bythewood

Writers:

Gina Prince-Bythewood (screenplay), Sue Monk Kidd (novel)

Stars:

Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah

12 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dakota Fanning	...	Lily Owens
Queen Latifah	...	August Boatwright
Jennifer Hudson	...	Rosaleen Daise
Alicia Keys	...	June Boatwright
Sophie Okonedo	...	May Boatwright
Paul Bettany	...	T. Ray Owens
Hilarie Burton	...	Deborah Owens
Tristan Mack Wilds	...	Zach Taylor (as Tristan Wilds)
Nate Parker	...	Neil
Shondrella Avery	...	Greta
Renee Ford Clark	...	Doll (as Renée Clark)
Sharon Conley	...	Violet (as Sharon Morris)
Nicky Buggs	...	Cressie
Jasmine Burke	...	Sugar Girl
Emma Sage Bowman	...	Young Lily

Storyline

Set in South Carolina in 1964, this is the tale of Lily Owens, 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 T-Ray, Lily flees with Rosaleen, her caregiver and 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.

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Plot Keywords:

insect in title | f rated | racism | cake | neglected child | 

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Taglines:

Bring Your Girlfriends, Sisters, Mothers and Daughters

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic material and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan] Official site [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 October 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Secret Life of Bees

Filming Locations:

Watha, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,527,799, 17 October 2008, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$37,766,350, 22 February 2009

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$39,947,322, 27 May 2013

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Searchlight Pictures, Overbrook Entertainment, Donners' Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min (director's cut) 110 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby (as Dolby Stereo) SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jennifer Hudson said in an interview that director Gina Prince-Bythewood had sent her to a store to get several items and while she was there, the staff and the customers verbally and racially abused her. The incident was, in fact staged by actors under Bythewood's direction in order for Hudson to get the feel of a racially tense environment, the time and setting of the film, and to help her with her characterization.

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Goofs

The story takes place in 1964. Throughout the story, June wears a silk-screen NAACP t-shirt. Silk-screened t-shirts did not exist until the issuance of a patent for the garment screen printing machine in 1969.

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Quotes

Neil: *Walks up to June who slowly rises from her chair* Hi.
June Boatwright: Hi.
Neil: *pause* Did you call me here to talk? I am a little busy...
June Boatwright: You ain't the only one who's busy, Neil.
Neil: *voice rises in irritation* So I'm just supposed to stand here and watch how busy you are...
June Boatwright: No! *Both turn away with a sigh*

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Alternate Versions

Home video versions (DVD and Blu-ray) include both the original theatrical version and the extended director's cut of 114 minutes.

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Connections

Featured in The 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards (2009)

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Soundtracks

Prelude (From The Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1 In G Major)
(1717-19)
Written by Johann Sebastian Bach

User Reviews

The Secret Life Of Bees is a powerful, amazing & excellent film followed by strong performances.

Let me just say that the movie NEVER had dull moment or even a second in the ENTIRE film!!! Set in South Carolina 1964, Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning) who is haunted by the memory of her late mother, tries to escape her lonely life and bad relationship with her father (Paul Bettany), to get past her horrible incident with her late mother. So, she and her caregiver Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson) flees to a South Carolina town where it holds the secret of her mother's past. Lily and Rosaleen finds the intelligent Boatwright sisters: August (Queen Latifah), June (Alicia Keys and May (Sophie Okenendo) where they take Lily and Rosaleen in, to have a place to stay for a while.

The Secret Life Of Bees is a movie of what you call a "tearjerker" and that's what it is, the movie will touch your heart and teaches you about life, care, love & forget about your horrible past and move on. As for performances, everyone delivers and a couple of Oscar-worthy ones too. Dakota Fanning and Sophie Okenendo are the ones that delivers the Oscar-worthy performances. Come Oscars season, don't be surprised if any of those both actresses will be in the envelope (they deserved to get those nods!!) Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Jennifer Hudson (R.I.P her brother and mother who just passed away one day ago.) delivered their best performances yet even Jennifer (I thought this was her best performance yet and better than ever Oscar-winning performance in Dreamgirls.). As for the supporting actors: Bettany, Parker and Wilds, they did great as well.

The Secret Life Of Bees is one of this year's best films, rush out and buy a ticket for this wonderful and amazing film!!