Tell it to the Bees (2018)

Another winner that will make your heart swell. This movie tackles some serious issues, and whisks you away with the aesthetic of Scotland in the 1950s!

⋆⋆⋆⋆ // 4 STARS

Director: Annabel Jankel

Where to Watch: I watched it on myflixer, but you can rent it on Amazon with a 30 day free trial for Showtime.

Google User Rating: 91% liked this movie!

"You should tell the bees your secrets. Then they won't fly away." (Dr. Jean Markham)

P.S. This movie is based on the book "Tell it to the Bees" by Fiona Shaw, however, my review is strictly based on the movie.

Quick Synopsis

Lydia Weekes is a mother struggling to make ends meet. She works in a textile factory of some sort, the kind with no safety regulations, and is about to get evicted, leaving her son and herself on the streets. Charlie, her son, went to the doctor's and brought home a journal to keep observations (given to him by the doctor) and Lydia, believing the doctor was trying to bribe Charlie, goes to the doctor's office furiously. Turns out, the doctor is a woman who just wants to enjoy Charlie's company. The doctor, Dr. Jean Markham, inherited her father's practice and house and was expected to sell everything and leave (because women shouldn't be doctors, of course), but she stays because she's been running away all her life due to a certain secret... she's gay! Surprise! Anywayyss, Lydia confides in Jean about her ex-husband who returned from his time as a soldier and is now an alcohol loving floozy who spends his time with his new lover. Lydia and Jean share an emotional connection. Some time passes, and Lydia gets fired from her job because of a machine malfunction and eventually gets evicted. Jean offers Lydia a job as a housekeeper, with payment as a place to stay/food, of course. It's clear that Jean is beginning to really care for Lydia, and she loves Charlie. Long story short, they fall in love (classic), but how will their love survive in a cruel and homophobic era? And how will Charlie cope with the changes, and more so how will Lydia's ex-husband take to her new identity? Watch the movie to find out.

Official Review

The movie "Tell it to the Bees" is a realistic classic, it follows a traditional storytelling movie structure and explores the beginning and end (is it really an end? Maybe, just watch the movie) of a relationship in a classic way. I keep using that word, but that's because it's meant to tell a story, just like all the best classic movies. Either way, I love the vintage feel so much, the fashion, the hair, the architecture, the color palette, it was GREAT. Was the

chemistry a 10/10? No, I would say a bit less than that, but it was an amazingly written relationship. It also depicted homophobia quite well, and made some kick-ass villainous characters as well, the ones you just detest, as well as some characters who probably didn't think they were doing anything wrong? Those characters are always interesting because yeah you should hate them, but most of the time it's just societal norms... who knows. The climax was interesting... I definitely wasn't expecting what happened, it was kind of weird, but a nice moment I guess, watch and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. I just enjoyed the movie a lot, and it depicted gay women very well and respectfully, as well as how gay women had to live in a world where same-sex relationships were shamed. BEFORE I FORGET, there is also a secondary straight

mixed race relationship (which of course is problematic again because, ya know, the 1950s)! I've mentioned this before, but I love a good secondary straight relationship, I feel like it normalizes the main gay relationship more.

Ok, why was it only 4 stars then? There's ONE reason for that, and I'll have to explain it the best I can without spoilers... Fiona Shaw (the author of the original book) ended the novel with a happy ending, whereas the movie ended with a more bittersweet scene. One thing I've thought about a lot, is why are all these gay movies ending with either bittersweet or just downright depressing endings, but I never thought much of it until I read this article written by Shaw: https://theconversation.com/my-book-tell-it-to-the-bees-was-made-into-a-film-but-they-changed-the-ending-for-a-straight-audience-118639. She explains that she just wanted a happy ending for once, where girls can love girls without having to break up, and unfortunately it doesn't end like that in the movie. It's really disappointing when it seems like every damn movie ends with the women parting ways, and because there was supposed to be a happy ending that got taken out for some strange and unfortunate reason, I took away a star. Shaw believes it's more because the director was straight and everyone was straight and it was some kind of internalized homophobia of sorts? Which I'm not entirely sure I agree with, but read the article (it's quick) and she'll explain it a lot better than I can.

Oh, also, don't 100% get the point of the bees, maybe you'll understand their importance better than I can.

Cast/Heartthrobs

What can I say, the actresses and actors are perfect for their roles! That's why I was so sad to take away a star because the cast really does such a good job. Anna Paquin as Dr. Jean Markham was perfect, as the character is very methodical and logical instead of Holliday Grainger's more lively performance as Lydia Weekes. This really is a classic trope for films with gay women haha, but what can you expect, it's a doctor and a peppy (but layered) mother. Emun Elliot as the ex-husband was too good, he really was so easy to hate, he really reminded me of Pornstache from Orange is the New Black. Lydia is definitely,

extremely hot in a universal way, there's no way anyone could say she's not, but Jean isn't your stereotypical beauty, which is sometimes the best kind (Anna Paquin is though, she's a 10 by anyone's standard). But I really love when casting directors hire women who look more average?? I know this sounds horrible especially since she's still gorgeous in the movie, but she doesn't look like your standard supermodel, you know? At least her character doesn't... anyways, great cast! 10/10.