For over sixties years films have been made from popular books. This has to be a tricky thing for the film makers since concessions have to be made in their vision of telling the story to those of the author of the original novel. If the book has been a beloved classic for a number of years then the public will rightfully expect a film that remains true to the novel but may be more willing to accept some degree of interpretation on the part of the script writer and director. In the case of a more recent book the audience may be more inclined to demand a literal translation of the novel to the screen and you are more likely to have the novel’s author around requesting input on the production. In most cases there has to be some give and take during the transition from page to screen. They are completely different formats and have often incompatible requirements to tell the same story. In the case of the film version of ‘The Secret Life of Bees’ there are natural and expected changes with the film version. What the cast and crew did manage was to maintain the heart and soul of the book which is an increasingly rare and wonderful thing. The film is endearing, touching and poignant able to draw in the audience into the lives of the characters. With a solid script and some fantastic actors giving bravura performances this was one of the better films of 2008.

It is a shame that big studios appear to turn their noses up on gentle, humanistic films in favor of huge blockbusters but fortunately the independent film makers are there to tell these stories. There is no need for expensive special effects needed here, the movie is dependent on the honest presentation of emotion in it succeeds greatly in that quest. When you consider that this film cost about $11 million you might think that is a lot of money and for most of us it is. Just compare that to movies that cost $150 or $200 million to produce and this sum is paltry; hardly able to fund the lighting. Indy films are around to push the limits of the art and invoke an emotional response in the audience and this film does so with style and grace. Some of the major, well established Hollywood studios have realized the potential of Indy flicks and started up their own distribution companies for movies like this. In the case of 20^th Century Fox they have Fox Searchlight Pictures. They are able to give a shot at independent film makers and allow for the creation and distribution and creation of a cinematic gem like this. The DVD and Blu-ray versions of the movie are available and give the discerning film buff an opportunity are adding this movie to their collection.

The story was based on the novel of the same name by Sue Monk Kidd and translated to a screenplay by Gina Prince-Bythewood who also directed the film. Most of her writing experience has been on television with contributions to series such as ‘Felicity’ and ‘A Different World’. This is her second time writing and directing a feature length film. Her freshman opus was the critically acclaimed ‘Love & Basketball’. What is most notable about her screenplays is her ability to create a strong female voice that is understandable to men. This may seem simple but if you look at films targeted at women the dreaded term ‘chick flick’ is certain to be bandied about. This is usually a kiss of death for men in the audience who only go to such movies in hopes of scoring a few points with their wives or girlfriends. The two screenplays that I have seen thus far from Ms. Prince-Bythewood hold together as really great stories that go beyond a female target audience due to the intrinsically human nature and appeal. Guys, this is a new millennium and it is about time that you admit that a gentle and well constructed drama such as this one is enjoyable. The considerable heart of this story is due in no small part to the setting. It takes place in the South Carolina in the mid sixties. This was a time when civil rights were the current hot button topic. The characters both establish and reinforce this with the choice of characters. A young white girl, Lily Owens, brilliantly played by Dakota Fanning becomes involved with a group of women who happen to be African American. Lily is basically an innocent who is untouched by the racial turmoil and pervading prejudice that infuses her community. This personalizes one of the most important issues in recent American history allowing an intimate perspective to be found. This is also a coming of age story with young Lily deviling into the mystery of her past and her mother.

As a director Prince-Bythewood does a remarkable job of pulling together so many varied elements into such a perfectly crafted film. One thing that is most notable is the way she is able to provide the required insight into the inner thoughts and emotions of the characters without resorting to the overused tactic of constant voice overs. This is better suited to a work based on a novel where the reader has to pay attention to the dialogue and actions of the characters to gain insight into them. There is a real eye for the way the scenes are constructed that makes this time period come alive with all its style and foibles. Prince-Bythewood uses the camera and lighting to reflect the mood and struggle of the characters that makes it difficult to believe this is only her second movie.

Lily has always been told by her odious father T. Ray (Paul Bettany) that she killed her mother when she was only four. Lily can’t remember anything about that and is driven to find out the truth of the matter. Lily has to keep a box of items that remind her of her mother safely buried in the yard away from her dad’s prying eyes. Initially Lily has only one friend, the housekeeper Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson). When the Civil Rights act is passed she accompanies her to register to vote but the pair is met by a group of red necks intent on standing in the way of social progress. Rosaleen winds up in a prison ward of the hospital and young Lily manages to break her out. They head for a town that Lily had seen written on the back of a photograph contained in her mother’s keepsakes. There they meet the quirky Boatwright sisters August (Queen Latifah), June (Alicia Keys) and May (Sophie Okonedo). They have a very lucrative business raising bees and selling the honey. August is the most responsible of the sisters. June is the beautiful one and May the flighty sister. They are invited into this strange and wonderful household and for the first time in her life Lily knows what it is like to have a mother figure. Together this band of women discovers the mystery that has plagued Lily and a bit of the meaning of life.

This is simply put the most incredible group of women to ever grace the movies. Fanning is wonderful in her role. She has a command of her performance that actresses twice her age couldn’t muster. Many child actresses facing their teen years go for the cheerleader roles but Ms Fanning has the insight and courage to stretch herself in her career. Queen Latifah is one of those actresses who never fail to provide a stellar performance. She is a born entertainer and this role show she can handle any genre. Her co-star Keys also started in music and is doing the transition correctly. She has been working with smaller roles to hone her craft.

I had the immense pleasure of watching this film in high definition. The Blu-ray release is one of the many reasons you should migrate to this format if at all possible. The cinematography screams out for a high def rendition. The colors are vibrant and alive like nothing you have ever seen. There is depth that the 1080p mastering provides that is life like and brilliant. The DTS HD lossless audio is perfection to the ears. It has a sweeping sound stage that allows you to enjoy the subtle nuance of the soundtrack. There are also plenty of extras provided to add to your enjoyment.