Last Tuesday my boyfriend and I saw "The Secret Life of Bees" at the 75 cent theater. I loved both the book and the movie - but did have a couple of issues.
First, the movie has absolutely nothing to do with the secret life of bees. The women could have owned an orange grove or a timber mill. The best selling book, by Sue Monk Kidd, does a better job of comparing human families and bee families.
Second, some reviewers have found fault with yet another movie that depicts African Americans with one goal, i.e., to save some attractive white person. Apparently that's what we white people used to think - that blacks were here to save and serve us.
This concept is called "The Magical Negro" and, as you can imagine, is offensive to many people, including me.
I didn't see that concept so much in this movie. The Boatwright sisters are so successful, intelligent, beautiful and strong that I did not feel offended.
"The Secret Life of Bees" is about a very troubled 14 year old white girl who is taken in by a loving family of black women - and becomes one of them.
The secret to me was in the all encompassing definition of "Family."
The black women are played by Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Jennifer Hudson. None of them sings.
Queen Latifah's character is God like in her ability to love. A key to this love and strength is the women's belief in something larger than themselves - something that sustains them in even the worst of times.
The movie is truly about female empowerment. Rent it - or see it in a second run theater for 75 cents.
You'll be happy you did.
***
First, the movie has absolutely nothing to do with the secret life of bees. The women could have owned an orange grove or a timber mill. The best selling book, by Sue Monk Kidd, does a better job of comparing human families and bee families.
Second, some reviewers have found fault with yet another movie that depicts African Americans with one goal, i.e., to save some attractive white person. Apparently that's what we white people used to think - that blacks were here to save and serve us.
This concept is called "The Magical Negro" and, as you can imagine, is offensive to many people, including me.
I didn't see that concept so much in this movie. The Boatwright sisters are so successful, intelligent, beautiful and strong that I did not feel offended.
"The Secret Life of Bees" is about a very troubled 14 year old white girl who is taken in by a loving family of black women - and becomes one of them.
The secret to me was in the all encompassing definition of "Family."
The black women are played by Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Jennifer Hudson. None of them sings.
Queen Latifah's character is God like in her ability to love. A key to this love and strength is the women's belief in something larger than themselves - something that sustains them in even the worst of times.
The movie is truly about female empowerment. Rent it - or see it in a second run theater for 75 cents.
You'll be happy you did.
***
