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The Secret Life of Bees (2008)
Enchanting Little Gem
& A Black Madonna, May 21, 2011
I was just beginning to study beekeeping when I saw the
title of this little gem & felt the call to watch it. The actual beekeeping
details were brief, but the story enticed me in. It's a 3 or 4 hanky emotional
roller coaster about race relations in the 50's-60's South, domestic violence,
inadvertent matricide, suicide, racism, personal discovery, redemption & a
Black Madonna. Yes, a Black Madonna! It's almost too much to squeeze into 90
minutes, but you sure get your money's worth.
The Black Madonna is introduced first as a product logo on jars of honey
produced by a positively radiant Queen Latifah (mixing Royal Jelly with her
Cover Girl?) Then we are told the story behind the logo. A carved log was
washed ashore & found to be the carving of a Black Virgin Mary--how Gnostic
can you get? The statue has an exposed heart & a small band of
African-American women hold impromptu services around it, concluding by each
one touching the heart.
NOTE: For people who don't know what I'm rambling on about, the image of the
Black Madonna represents the Virgin Mary, yes--but from a Gnostic perspective
it can also represent Mary Magdalene. Incidentally, the bee was the selected
emblem of Napoleon, but I don't think that has any relevance in this story.
All the actors are outstanding & Dakota Fanning is quite affective in the
role of the conflicted white girl who finds her self & love in the company
of fascinating (and gorgeous) black women. I also give a special nod to the
actor who played the cruel father. It was sort of a thankless role, but he
played it well.
This movie is a MUST SEE.
Review:
Jeff Farrow
Updated
11/11