We are taken to rural South Carolina where T. Ray Owens (don't you like those Southern names?) and his wife Deborah, are fighting, while their four year old daughter, Lily, is watching her father beat up his wife. The reason appears to be connected with the fact she wants out of a bad marriage. During the struggle there a shot is fired, killing Deborah.
Years have gone by, Lily is a teenager when we meet her again. T. Ray is has kept his mean attitude, not only toward his daughter, but toward Rosaleen, their live-in maid, as well. The time of the action is the 1960s when blacks saw a ray of hope by the laws that would allow them to become first class citizens, something that up to this point, had been denied to them. Rosaleen feels she must register to vote. Unfortunately, she is assaulted by some white folks that beat her up. Lily, who has had it with the situation at home, rescues Rosaleen and both flee to a town called Tiburon, a place that is engraved in Lily's mind.
Lily and Rosaleen are directed to the house of three black sisters that make a living out of the bees they tend to. The sisters have peculiar names. There is May, who appears to be mentally challenged. June is a young woman that evidently has received a formal education. The eldest sister is August, a proud lady, who takes pity on the new arrivals. August takes Lily under her wing, introducing her to the art of keeping the bees that provide them with a comfortable living. The honey produce is much appreciated all around.
Unfortunately, it is still the South. Tiburon has its share of bigots. Lily, who has connected with the kind Zach, accompanies him to town to catch a film. The theater was still segregated. When Lily sneaks out to the balcony, a group of white men pulls Zach away, beating him mercilessly, and taking him away. May, is distraught upon hearing the sad news. Eventually, Zach is brought home, but May is not there to greet him.
When T. Ray finds Lily, he wants to take her back with him. She, on the other hand, does not want to have anything with a father she does not love. Lily has found a heaven with the kind sisters that take her in without asking anything. At the end Lily finds out the truth about her mother and the connection with the sisters.
Gina Prince-Bythewood adapted and directed Sue Monk Kidd's beloved novel of the same title. To her credit, she has stayed away from the sentimentality that could have easy been the wrong approach to bringing the story to a cinematic form. The Boatwright women are depicted in vivid detail as each one deals with the newly arrival of Lily into their midst. The era of the bigotry in that part of the country takes second seat to the relationship between the Boatwrights and Lily.
Queen Latifah's August shows a regal lady that is too wise as well as nurturing. Dakota Fanning, now a teenager herself, works effortlessly with Lily, something that appears to come naturally to her. We especially liked Sophie Okonedo, a sensational actress, that moves the viewer with her take of May. Paul Bettany is seen briefly as T. Ray. Alicia Keys plays June.
Years have gone by, Lily is a teenager when we meet her again. T. Ray is has kept his mean attitude, not only toward his daughter, but toward Rosaleen, their live-in maid, as well. The time of the action is the 1960s when blacks saw a ray of hope by the laws that would allow them to become first class citizens, something that up to this point, had been denied to them. Rosaleen feels she must register to vote. Unfortunately, she is assaulted by some white folks that beat her up. Lily, who has had it with the situation at home, rescues Rosaleen and both flee to a town called Tiburon, a place that is engraved in Lily's mind.
Lily and Rosaleen are directed to the house of three black sisters that make a living out of the bees they tend to. The sisters have peculiar names. There is May, who appears to be mentally challenged. June is a young woman that evidently has received a formal education. The eldest sister is August, a proud lady, who takes pity on the new arrivals. August takes Lily under her wing, introducing her to the art of keeping the bees that provide them with a comfortable living. The honey produce is much appreciated all around.
Unfortunately, it is still the South. Tiburon has its share of bigots. Lily, who has connected with the kind Zach, accompanies him to town to catch a film. The theater was still segregated. When Lily sneaks out to the balcony, a group of white men pulls Zach away, beating him mercilessly, and taking him away. May, is distraught upon hearing the sad news. Eventually, Zach is brought home, but May is not there to greet him.
When T. Ray finds Lily, he wants to take her back with him. She, on the other hand, does not want to have anything with a father she does not love. Lily has found a heaven with the kind sisters that take her in without asking anything. At the end Lily finds out the truth about her mother and the connection with the sisters.
Gina Prince-Bythewood adapted and directed Sue Monk Kidd's beloved novel of the same title. To her credit, she has stayed away from the sentimentality that could have easy been the wrong approach to bringing the story to a cinematic form. The Boatwright women are depicted in vivid detail as each one deals with the newly arrival of Lily into their midst. The era of the bigotry in that part of the country takes second seat to the relationship between the Boatwrights and Lily.
Queen Latifah's August shows a regal lady that is too wise as well as nurturing. Dakota Fanning, now a teenager herself, works effortlessly with Lily, something that appears to come naturally to her. We especially liked Sophie Okonedo, a sensational actress, that moves the viewer with her take of May. Paul Bettany is seen briefly as T. Ray. Alicia Keys plays June.