Watch Bee Season For Free

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

"Bee Season" is a multi-dimensional cinematic masterpiece with subtle streams of subtext swirling just below the surface, sweeping us into a deep and gentle journey of emotional and spiritual transformation. This little film is filled with deeply penetrating multi-layered representations of familial archetypal roles of spouse, father, mother, son, daughter, and sibling, mystical and metaphysical wisdom, and haunting reflections on the deep human psyche, shadow, and the powerful undercurrents of buried memory. Slowly, these subtextual streams rise and become the text in this beautiful cinematic work. This is a gentle, haunting, sacred, mystifying, and subtly profound motion picture. In the final moments, there is revelation that is beyond what can be spoken. For some this is a difficult movie to watch because of its transmodern approach to story, shifting the ground underneath what we normally experience as text and subtext, but if you can open yourself to this wondrous little film it will feed your heart and soul.

I read a few of the reviews before posting this because I wanted to validate some of my thoughts during this film. Here, I'm watching it 7 years after it came out, however that affects my perspective. I like films about human interaction/interesting characters placed in unusual situations - like in 'War of the Worlds' - the best of humanity comes out when we come together in a common cause/disaster. Not knowing anything about Kabbalism except when Madonna got into it - I didn't think this movie was going to center so much on the supernatural kind of 'one with God and nature' thing. It was too much. It sounds like this was based on a book - better read the book first because this movie does not explain most of what is going on. All the actors/actresses did a great job. The tragedy of the family situation was well done and I was curious as to what the heck was going on with the mother. I did not get the subtle reasons why she needed to get into the light or whatever. I was hoping it was something more than the mystical thing the daughter ended up being into. You can predict the ending with the spelling bee but what the heck is going on after is way beyond what I could figure out. While I don't need to be spoon fed plot, the movies that just 'stop' at the end - leaving you to have lively discussions afterwards no doubt - leave me not knowing how to feel about the movie. Was it a good ending? Were the lessons learned? Doesn't seem like the Dad would change the personality/demeanor he's had for 20 years in a moment. Anyway - don't see this movie if you're looking for a satisfying, feel good movie. If you need a movie to spur conversation after - there are probably better choices but this one is OK.

I can only take comfort in the fact that I borrowed the movie from the public library. My wife and I were hoping the time invested would pay off, but the plot never really develops. Anyone who sees anything in this is REALLY stretching for meaning.There is little to establish the intent of the characters and even less to explain their actions. By the time you're half way in you realize that nothing has really happened. However, having spent that much time you assume there will be a significant plot twist by the time the film resolves, but it just never does so.Perhaps the problem is my own lack of "spiritual enlightenment". I don't know.

Looking at the summary text on the DVD, i was expecting a run-of-the-mill family drama, watchable because Juliette Binoche and Richare Gere were in it. Little was i prepared for the deep dive into many-faceted overt spiritual searching that each character was going through! It is rare to see this subject treated with such respect and subtlety as this this film does! Some of the scenes moved me deeply and even sent chills up my spine. The subtle use of special effects was a definite plus.There are several unanswered questions at the end of the film but all in all a must-film for all interested in films about spiritual seeking.