Bee Season

What’s the Story?

Based on Maya Goldberg's 2000 novel, BEE SEASON focuses on the Naumanns, a well-meaning, intellectual, dysfunctional family. The Naumann's dysfunctions provide a ground for exploring the relationship between language and experience, or, put another way, the dire consequences of literalizing desire. Dad Saul (Richard Gere) is a Kabbalist professor who puts his energies into sixth grade spelling prodigy Eliza (Flora Cross) and convinces himself that she might become "someone who can really connect to God." Saul neglects his son Aaron (Max Minghella), who looks elsewhere for "meaning" and finds it in Hari Krishna devotee Chali (Kate Bosworth). The most tragic Naumann is mom Miriam (Juliette Binoche), who harbors a past trauma. She too feels neglected by Saul and falls increasingly into a form of literalization that has, apparently, plagued her for years. Her visions reveal the fragmented way by which she sees the world, what the camera shows through the kaleidoscope she gives Eliza. Slowly, she comes undone, frightening her children.

Is It Any Good?

Suffused with loss and longing, Bee Season is often, in single scenes, delicate and moving. This makes its lapses into inelegance almost more intriguing as they clash with the brief close-ups of Eliza's shallow breaths and closed eyes as she goes into trances during spelling bee competitions. Yet the movie depends too much on contrivances, stereotypes, and very slow-on-the-uptake parents and partners. All of which leaves you feeling a step ahead of the narrative, not an ideal position when contemplating spiritual "truths."

As Eliza wins trophies and accolades, she also comes to understand -- and forgive -- her parents' flaws. The movie's themes and images are evocative and sometimes cryptic, raising spiritual and emotional questions, but it tangles up the theme of literalism with plot in ways that are sometimes clunkier than they are poignant or shrewd.