Review of The Secret Life of Bees (2008) by Robert F — 15 Jun 2014

What impressed me most with "The Secret Lives of Bees" is how the film managed to capture a piece of the complexity existing in black/white relationships. Make no mistake, however, it is fully a Hollywood movie with soft and cozy sugar-coated touches throughout.

That said, though, this film goes further than many of its recent counterparts attempting to deal with a similar theme. And, unlike most Hollywood movies exploring black/white relationships, I respect this story doesn't serve up a whitey riding in to save the day.

The saviors in this story are a group of strong, powerful and loving black women. Much more substance here than cheesy flicks like "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood." Adapted from the book of the same name, it does a better job of staying true to the story than most novel-inspired films.