What was bee season about

What Eliza is doing at the end of "Bee Season" is Eliza's will. Does that make her God? It makes her Eliza. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from until his death in In , he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. Rated PG for thematic elements, a scene of sensuality and brief strong language. Kate Bosworth as Chali. Flora Cross as Eliza Naumann.

Robyn Blair as Melanie. Juliette Binoche as Miriam Naumann. Richard Gere as Saul Naumann. Max Minghella as Aaron Naumann. Justin Alioto as Kevin. Reviews The A Bee Cs of family.

Roger Ebert November 10, Now streaming on:. Powered by JustWatch. Now playing. Beans Nick Allen. His mid-teen son, Aaron Naumann, idolizes his father, and does whatever he can to please him.

His pre-teen daughter, Eliza Naumann, often feels the neglected child. So when Saul eventually learns that Eliza is participating and excelling in spelling bees, she becomes the focus of his life as he believes that letters in the form of words will lead to answers to the universe. That change in focus to Eliza makes Aaron now feel the neglected one, he who strikes out quietly in his own way with the help of Chali, a young woman he meets.

But the person who has felt the most pressure within Saul's way of life is his wife, Miriam Naumann, a microbiologist. She converted from Catholicism to Judaism when she and Saul married. But as Saul espouses the concept of tikkun olam, bringing together the shards of the world to make it whole, it affects Miriam negatively in trying to cope with an incident from her childhood.

Through it all, Eliza may understand her father's way of life the best, and use it in a way unexpected to bring the family back together. Words may define us, but it's love that connects us. Rated PG for thematic elements, a scene of sensuality and brief strong language. Did you know Edit. Trivia Dakota Fanning was originally going to play Eliza, but directors thought that Flora Cross looked like Juliette Binoche and selected Cross instead.

People in the Church do not respond to the priest, but go directly to receive Communion, and it is very clear that the ceremony going on is Catholic. Quotes Saul : There are people who believe that letters are an expression of a very special primal energy and when they combine to make words they hold all the secrets of the universe Connections Featured in At the Movies: Episode 2. User reviews 75 Review. Top review. A Film to be Viewed with a Thirsty Mind.

Though many have dismissed it as fragmentary and superficial, taking the time to bear down on the issues merely touched upon yields an emotional as well as spiritual experience not often found in films. With a cast that includes Juliette Binouche and Richard Gere there should be a hint there may be more to the film than a quick glance might reveal. Based on the highly successful novel by Myla Goldberg the story enters the household of a family of four: Saul Richard Gere is the father who is a professor of spiritual studies; Miriam Juliette Binouche is the mother suffering with demons from her past loss of her parents as a child leading her to grow without an intact family; Eliza Flora Cross is the daughter who seems content to watch TV instead of paying attention to her schooling; and Aaron Max Minghella is the son who excels at playing the cello and who is the focus of his father's life.

When it is discovered that Eliza has a penchant for spelling and wins a spelling bee the focus of this family abruptly changes.

Suddenly Saul moves his attention to Eliza, convinced that she has the power of the influx of God-knowledge shefa described by the Kabbalist Abraham Abulafia. This leads to his prepping her for her constant victories at spelling bees, but it also leaves Aaron without focus and he responds by seeking first Christianity then Hare Krishna for the meaning of his life.

At the same time Miriam becomes more isolated and secretive and enters a state of depression that reflects her childhood loss and the need to accumulate 'things' in a number of ways that border on mental breakdown.

The film is best viewed, by the way, by first watching the featurette about the reasons for the making of the film - a wise commentary that gives us enough philosophical background to appreciate the message of the story that seemingly has eluded directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel. Watching the explanation of how religions all act to provide frameworks that should help individuals to piece together the fragments of existence that have been given to us as our lives serves to bring into focus how each of the four characters in this story is each on that journey for meaning.

Once viewed, this featurette makes the movie far more meaningful and enjoyable. The screenplay by Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal yes, the mother of Maggie and Jake is minimalist in technique of writing, giving just enough information about the big questions to make us work to paste the story together.

The cinematography by Giles Nuttgens and special effects by Sean House are used extraordinarily well to underline the mysticism that permeates the film's story.

Peter Nashel's musical score accompanies the otherworldly atmosphere that helps to bring the audience into the mood of the film. This may not be a great film, but it is a unique one that calls upon the audience to think and free-associate with the characters, each of whom is well enacted by a strong cast. Well worth viewing. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update. Family grapples with loss of emotional closeness and spiritual direction; a troubled mother becomes a thief; a father becomes obsessed with his young daughter's capacity to "connect with God.

Parents need to know that this drama focuses on a family's gradual, difficult breakdown. It includes several tense family scenes, one harsh argument between father and son yelling and using the f-word , and the revelation of the mother's mental illness she's having flashbacks to the harrowing sight of her parents' fatal car crash, and stealing objects from houses she can reach by car and by foot.

A young spelling prodigy comes to see not only how words are spelled, but also how to forgive and help her fragile family. Add your rating See all 1 parent review. Add your rating See all 2 kid reviews. 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.

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. 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. Families can talk about the increasing distances among the family members. How might Saul pay closer attention to Miriam's needs, even as he pursues his own desire for a profound spiritual experience? How do the various searches for spiritual "connection" parallel one another?

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