The Secret Life of Bees
|
The Secret Life of Bees is a 2008 American drama film adapted from the 2001 novel of the same name by Sue Monk Kidd. Starring Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo, and Paul Bettany, the film was written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, and produced by Lauren Shuler Donner and Will Smith, with Jada Pinkett Smith as the executive producer.
The Secret Life of Bees is noted for Queen Latifah's critically acclaimed performance as August Boatwright. The film was released in the United States on October 17, 2008, and in the United Kingdom on December 5, 2008.
Plot
[edit | edit source]In 1964 South Carolina, Lily Owens lives on a peach orchard with her abusive, widowed father T. Ray. Ten years earlier, then-four-year-old Lily had accidentally shot her mother, Deborah, as she was attempting to leave T-Ray.
In the present day, Lily's 14th birthday is approaching, and she celebrates the signing of the Civil Rights Act with her father’s Black hired help, Rosaleen. On the night before her birthday, Lily sneaks into the orchard, where she has secretly buried a few mementos of her mother, including a paper reading “Black Madonna Honey, Tiburon, SC.” She places the picture of her mother on her stomach to feel closer to her as she lays back to look at the stars.
Cast
[edit | edit source]- Dakota Fanning as Lily Owens
- Emily Alyn Lind as young Lily Owens
- Queen Latifah as August Boatwright
- Jennifer Hudson as Rosaleen "July" Boatwright-Daise, Lily's black maid
- Alicia Keys as June Boatwright, August's younger sister
- Sophie Okonedo as May Boatwright, August's older sister
- Paul Bettany as T. Ray Owens, Lily's abusive widowed father
- Hilarie Burton as Deborah Owens, Lily's deceased mother
- Tristan Wilds as Zach Taylor, August's assistant and Lily's love interest
- Nate Parker as Neil, June's boyfriend later fiancé
- Shondrella Avery as Greta Taylor, Zach's mother