Review of Bee Season (2005) by Natalie A — 18 Jun 2008

I loved Myla Goldberg's book and was sad I missed the movie's short run in theaters. The book painted vivid yet delicate pictures of the characters' interior and shared landscapes; I was curious to see how the the screenplay would translate those inner worlds into visual images. The film depicted the internal realities with less finesse, but still captured many of the intricacies. However, I'm not sure if the film could stand alone. I don't know that I would have fully grasped the plot had I not read Goldberg's book first.

Tikkun Olam. It's profound to consider how each character, each religious path, relentlessly seeks closure and restoration of fragmented experiences. "Bee Season" is a compelling look at one family's emotional kaleidoscope. If I had to recommend only one way to experience it, I'd suggest you read it. But if you can choose two, you should see it, too.