Film Reviews

The Secret Life of Bees

• Rating:
• Director:
• Starring: Alicia Keys
• Details: US / 110mins / (15A)

Adapted from the bestselling novel of the same name, 'The Secret Life of Bees' sees Dakota Fanning lead an extremely talented cast admirably. She plays Lily, a teenage girl who has grown up without the love of a mother after she was killed in a tragic accident when she was but a child. If that wasn't bad enough, her father (Paul Bettany doing a fantastic southern accent) is abusive, and takes out her mother's untimely demise on her. One day, the bright Lily has enough, so she bounces her nanny (Hudson) from police custody and they both go in search of information on Lily's mother. They end up staying with Miss August (Latifah), a kindly black woman living with her two sisters, who may have known her mother. Set in the Deep South during the era of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, it's not the first film to explore the tension and racial violence that took place around that time, nor is it the best; but it is the first that will appeal to the tween in you life. There's an extremely likeable lead in Fanning, as well as a story that is well told and structured, but not too bogged-down in plot. Proceedings are, of course, underlined with a certain inevitability, but that's not the point, here - despite predictable plot turns and an unsure start, it really is engrossing, as we spend just enough time with each character to get to know them better. This is essentially a touching ensemble piece anchored by Fanning, and she has grown from gifted youngster to a genuinely fantastic actress - the Jodie Foster comparisons may not be as far-fetched as first thought. There's also a slight whimsical element throughout that you can't help but buy into, rendering this a more attractive option than the latest CGI dog saving the world. The teens will lap this up, but there's a good chance that you will, too. The Secret Life of Bees is a hugely endearing feel-good film that transcends preconceptions.

Review by Mike Sheridan