A very nice romantic movie. Theres one more deviation from the book that felt like a too bitter pill after watching a swarm of bees attack on-command. Tell It To The Bees is a 2019 drama set in the 1950s small town of Britain, where a doctor develops a relationship with her young patients mother. Definitely deserves a much higher rating than what it got. Special mention for Gregor Selkirk who is captivating as the young son, caught in the middle of the storm. | I'm a Conservative, Straight guy, but this movie tugged hard at my heartstrings. The ending wasn't as sad as I was anticipating after reading all the comments on it. Monica Castillo is a freelance writer and University of Southern California Annenberg graduate film critic fellow. The love shown was real and palpable. An Executive Producer Recommends Three Films to Watch for Black History Month: Passing, A Most Beautiful Thing and Mr. No wonder their eyes catch each others attention. Apart from Jean, who comes from the professional classes and inherited her medical practice from her father, all the main characters are from a working-class background. Directed by Annabel Jankel, Tell It to the Bees is a poignant story of a romance thats crushed before it can take wing, even if it lacks the messiness of Fiona Shaws source novel. Terrible. Its an almost comical departure, but its certainly a disappointing one. Kevin Maher. Although they dont get together until much later in the film, watching their tender relationship grow feels just as risky. The website's critical consensus reads, " Tell It to the Bees is well-acted and well-intentioned but often undermined by its frustratingly didactic storytelling". As always, its important to know where weve been to help shape where we are going. After another rough fight with his schoolmates, Charlie is brought into to see Dr. Jean Markham (Anna Paquin), a kindly doctor who senses hes in pain from more than just scrapes and bruises. Why on earth would the doctor choose to stay back when she can be a doctor anywhere. In voiceover, an older Charlie (voiced by Billy Boyd but never seen) sends the audience back to his childhood days in 1950s Scotland. Two lonely and sad characters finding happiness in each other. Tell it to the Bees, review: near-Braveheart levels of cultural tone-deafness 2. Sometimes happy endings is how you end a movie, nothing wrong with that. Tell It To The Bees, is a beautiful film set in a time that those, who gave this film one star, possibly wished would return. This is not so much a love story about a "forbidden" love, but it is also about a child who slowly discovers how things work in the adult world. Flashes of magical realism gently but gratingly clash with drab melodrama. The movie was better than expected. Tell It to the Bees review nuanced novel becomes a movie without any buzz. The film is therefore shot in what might be described as an updated version of the "kitchen sink" social-realist school of the fifties and sixties. Friday July 19 2019, 12.01am, The Times. Toronto Film Review: Tell It to the Bees The well of loneliness runneth over in this heavy-handed British lesbian romance set in early 1950s Scotland. His mom, Lydia (Holliday Grainger), is a working woman after her war-shaken husband, Robert (Emun Elliott), has left the family. Majority of this movie doesn't deserve 2/10. One thing Tell It to the Bees gets right is presenting the societal stigma associated with same-sex relationships during the 1950s, especially in small, closed-off communities. Holliday granger was brilliant in this movie, such natural acting and she is stunning to look at. I liked it. But it suffers from the same issues we saw in lesbian movies of the past: the development just wasn't quite there for the characters, every possible tired theme from lesbian films is thrown at us, including the ending, which frankly, bothers me to no end because it makes NO sense. | What's likely to draw you toTell it to the Bees is the couple at its center. Even in the midst of chaos, theres a sense of calm in the naturalistic scenery. Holliday Grainger and Anna Paquin star as two lovers in postwar Scotland in an uneven adaptation of Fiona Shaws novel On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 52% rating based on 54 reviews by professional critics, and an average rating of 5.30/10. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Tell it to the Bees at Amazon.com. Tell it to the Bees plays like a grittier Scottish version of "Carol". This movie is absolutely beautiful, should be more known. Even though several have seemingly chosen to make a moral judgement in their score (for a film that isn't really that contentious) I will simply give what I hope is a more reasoned assessment. I tried for about a year to read the book but could never find the time, glad I didn't wait to finish the book before watching the movie. Jean is usually shown in jewel tones, slightly more regal in comparison to Lydias fondness for pastels. Sweet movie but ending made no sense. Tell It To The Bees, is a beautiful film set in a time that those, who gave this film one star, possibly wished would return. I wanted to like this; rarely do filmmakers sensitively portray romance between women and not for the male gaze. FAQ Just goes to show that you do not need to be loud, outspoken, or violent to bring about change. In a small town in 1950s Britain, a doctor begins a a passionate romance with the mother of her young patient. LesFlicks - increasing the knowledge of, and access to, lesbian and bisexual film and series through film clubs, film database and a global streaming platform. Charlie is a young boy trying to understand the world. Select Your Cookie Preferences. The departure from the flow of the book made the last half hour feel clunky. Are you liveing in the same time as me ? For two-thirds of Annabel Jankels romantic drama, Tell It to the Bees, the story rolls along like many weve seen before. Tell It to the Bees is well-acted and well-intentioned -- but often undermined by its frustratingly didactic storytelling. Being unafraid of who you are is enough. I can't help but think there is an underlying homophobic conspiracy to pretty much every "lesbian" film. There's no urgency to its message, no passion at its centre. A time when to choose who we loved was considered a vile act, but to act vilely to those that did was expected behaviour. Despite its historical setting, the film is not really made in the British "heritage cinema" style. I thought the book was way more depressing then the movie. The incorporation of the bees was beautiful and profound, rich in symbolism and childhood innocence. Some of the films lovelier assets include the work of cinematographer Bartosz Nalazek. Its a beautiful tale about love and acceptance in a world where too often we are judged by who we choose to be with. Annabel Jankel (known for her music videos and as a creator of Max Headroom) directs the script from sisters Henrietta and Jessica Ashworth, and we learn that this rural community in 1952 Scotland is filled with judgmental and close-minded folks unable to accept that some don't live and love according to society's general rules of the time. She had recently returned home after her father's death. Share. Tell It To the Bees is a tender mid-century love story cloaked in human frailty, and it begins promisingly enough only to falter mid-way through. Shes afraid to love in the way that Lydia is not. Awards Tell It To The Bees should have told Less Updated / Thursday, 18 Jul 2019 15:15 Holliday Grainge as Lydia and Anna Paquin as Dr Jean Markham in Tell It To The Bees, an over-egged melodrama. Charlie befriends Jean Markham (Anna Paquin) who keeps bees in her yard. I have seen some reviews mention the bee's , but I really enjoyed the child like magic that was shown in Charlie's relationship with them. Tell It to the Bees is a British-Swedish co-production staged by Reliance Entertainment, Productions 8, Archface Films, Taking a Line for a Walk Productions, Riverstone Pictures, Cayenne Film Company, Motion Picture Capital, the British Film Institute (BFI), Creative Scotland, Filmgate Films, Twickenham Studios and Film i Tell It to the Bees review a strange romance 3 / 5 stars 3 out of 5 stars. by Graham Fuller Saturday, 20 July 2019. To me it was a very powerful part of the film. Zero chemistry, bizarre storyline and sentient bees. That is significant. Robbie Collin, Film Critic "Tell It to the Bees" is set in an industrial town in the Scotland of the 1950s and tells the story of a lesbian relationship between Jean Markham, the town's doctor and Lydia Weekes, a worker in one of the local factories. Slowly, Jean succumbs to Lydia and the secret cannot be kept hidden. Metacritic Reviews. Branching out from a music videos background, Jankel unfurls her story gently, taking in each awkward kiss, forbidden handhold or nervous glance. Read full review Although she originally went to Boston University for biochemistry and molecular biology before landing in the sociology department, she went on to review films for The Boston Phoenix, WBUR, Dig Boston, The Boston Globe, and co-hosted the podcast Cinema Fix., Sundance 2021: All Light, Everywhere, Users, Rebel Hearts, Bring Your Own Brigade. Don't get me wrong, I did like this film. Tell it to the Bees is about a small town in Scotland during the 1950s. Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. He captures the luscious greenery of the English countryside, the ever-grey skies, the drab homes and muddy streets of the town. A passionate story; a subject that likely was very taboo in the early 1950s, and still even today in many circles. | Theres no rush to get to the steamy part of the romance. The Birds and the Bees offer a gateway into something more digestible and altogether safer, because their metaphorical existence allows all involved parties to remove themselves from the narrative. We use cookies and similar tools to enhance your shopping experience, to provide our services, understand how customers use our services But "Tell it to the Bees" illustrates that the 80's were just a step along a journey that started long before that. I'm sick of it! Thanks so much. Winning performances by leads Anna Paquin and Holliday Grainger cant banish it.. The story is less convincing about the symbolism of the bees (which is presumably derived from the book). Annie (Lauren Lyle), Lydias sister-in-law, is a fan of jean overalls and navy sweaters, and Lydias mother-in-law Pam (Kate Dickie) favors a faded factory smock. It was decent movie and I really enjoyed it, up until the last 10 minutes. The director draws excellent performances from the two female leads (playing Lydia and Dr Jean) and also from the very capable supporting cast. So many lost opportunities hereHolliday Grainger was the best part of this film. With nothing new to say and no new way of saying it, theres little to recommend in Tell It to the Bees. "Pride" made you appreciate just how far tolerance has come in the UK in 30 years. Unfortunately, while director AJ Jankel (Super Mario Bros yes, shes the one responsible for that) captures aspects of the hostility toward lesbian When Lydia and Charlie get evicted, they move in with Jean. Ryan O. For those of us who like our historical dramas, Tell It to the Bees serves up plenty of the sub-genres hallmarks. Tell it to the Bees is a period drama with no sting. Read more. Helpful. Its a costume choice that speaks to the womens difference in class and personalities. Claire M. Singers score keeps the music flowing alongside the buzz of bees. The acting of the three principal players was exceptional throughout the entire film. Soul. Best LGBTQ+ film I have ever had the privilege to see. Grainger excitedly digs into those feelings of new love after her character conquers her initial reservations. Tell It to the Bees review - taboo love in 1950s Scotland A woman doctor changes the lives of a struggling factory worker and her young son. But, that was a way better ending then if she went back with her husband or if one of them died. With hair and makeup at a minimum for just about everyone else in town, Jean and Lydia stick out with their gently styled curls and colorful dresses. Both actresses portrayed the characters well, and I really ended up enjoying the movie. The storyline was completely believable and powerful. If it werent for the characters in the frame, I might have thought I accidentally flipped a channel. She's a woman's doctor and a lesbian which must be kept secret back then in a small village. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. And the message and narrative are still relevant today. But the fact that they actually changed the happy ending, which was in the book, to make it more appealing to the wider (straight) audience, was offensive. Greetings again from the darkness. Based on the novel by Fiona Shaw Tell it to the Bees is set in the 1950s and has single mother Lydia Weekes (Holliday Grainger) working in a mill trying to pay her rent and support herself and young son Charlie (Gregor Selkirk). At school, Charlie (played by Gregor Selkirk) is bullied but when he comes home, he finds his mom crying and tries to comfort her instead. Of book conversations, long walks, and shared affection and fondness over Lydia's son, Tell It To The Bees was a triumphant book about a woman falling in love with another woman at a time when it was scorned and Read critic reviews His father Robert Weekes (Emun Elliott) is a brutal man who has abandoned him and his mother Lydia (Holliday Grainger). Her character has lost at love and already suffered from her neighbors prejudices. Im almost disappointed that Charlie takes up so much time away from their gentle courtship, but the real bump on the road is the films baffling third act. Still, a happier ending than expected. Young mother Lydia and her son Robert bond with Jean. It felt like an avoidable misstepfor such a tender story. I'm just plain sick of it. External Reviews There are less than 5 movies that can bring tears to my eyes, and this incredibly beautiful film has just added itself to that list. I don't want to say too much about the plot, but I really emphasized with the players. The screenwriters for Tell it to the Bees wanted to give the film a sweeping romantic ending, like Brief Encounter or Dr Zhivago. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us I wished to see Jean and Lydia reunite though. The plot was nothing original, but had some good moments. Despite the factory job, her earnings are not enough to support her and her son. Well except we didn't get a happy ending.. As per usual when it comes to wlw couples on screen. 120 people found this helpful. Of course I wish Jean went with her, or at the very least they left it that they were going to meet up in a few months. Because lesbian relationships are still frowned upon in some societies. This is a convincing and captivating story. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Tell it to the Bees at Amazon.com. Inone climactic moment, the bees are used as a weapon against an intruder. Then theres a third act thats so wildly out of left field, it shifts the tone completely. I am absolutely shocked this movie only has a 5.8/10 rating. Conclusion: Tell It to the Bees. Her energy helps carry Tell It to the Bees through its darkest moments. User Ratings The fashion style and the two main actresses don't disappoint. Paquins performance comes across as cautious and anxious. [30] This latter aspect, particularly, seems rather incongruous with the otherwise quite adult themed lesbian romance story. Seriously, is there a master class taught to every director and producer in how to make a lesbian film crash and burn to discourage women from entering into relationships together? For two-thirds of Annabel Jankels romantic drama, Tell It to the Bees, the story rolls along like many weve seen before. Charlie unknowingly brings Lydia and Jean together, and the two find an unlikely source of comfort in their trying times: each other. But this device is relied on too heavily when it is employed to dilute the stakes of Annabel Jankels sapphic romance Tell It to the Bees . However, I'm not sure why they chose to diverge so much from such a well done book and the happy ending of it? (For the full, graphical review please visit One Mann's Movies on the internet or Facebook. The writing is exquisite, culminating in such a simple message at the end that it brought on the waterworks. I find it touching and engaging. Despite Holliday Grainger and Anna Paquins efforts, theres no urgency to its message and no passion at its centre. Life choice: Holliday Grainger, left, as Lydia, Anna Paquin as Jean. Costume designer Alison Mitchell uses a soft but still colorful palette in her assembly of practical work dresses. I ran across this film on line, and being a fan of Anna Paquin, I looked into it. I did not like "SadnessNeverGoes". Just dumb. Save Anna Paquin and Holliday Grainger as lovers in Tell it to the Bees. Scandalously, the new doctor in town is a lady named Jean. I would like to answer "SadnessNeverGoes" who in 139 words, 8 punctuations and no capital letters whatsoever ecxept the first word "Is", gave it a 2. I enjoyed the movie, it wasn't great but it was cute and at times a bit angsty. Tell It To The Bees (806) And god, so lesbians can't be together at the end, but bees will save you once a psychic, magical connection is made with them. Tell It To The Bees TIFF 18 Review Tell It To The Bees tells the story of two women who against everything find love together and try to survive the harsh world that they live in. Tell It To The Bees can seem a little too respectable for its own good but there are moments of pain and heartbreak that rise to the surface, especially in a tense climax that puts the fates of several characters in the balance. Why wouldn't they leave together they clearly wanted to be together. Tell It To The Bees reviewed by Mark Kermode Mark Kermode reviews Tell It To The Bees. Report abuse. Instead, the characters gradually earn each others trust and affection. Imagine being that little boy and saving your own mother in that situation. She shares her familys lore about the bees she keeps near her stately home, teaching Charlie how to tell his secrets to the bees and bond with them. Its a 1950s period piece about the forbidden love between two women and the small Scottish town where they live thats ready to tear them apart with rumors and threats. I can feel the warmth in the chemistry between Anna Paquin and Holliday Grainger. Glad it had a happy ending which is not very often in LGBT themed movies. Theres a squishy wistfulness that hangs over Tell It to the Bees, a same sex romance set in small town Scotland in the 1950s. Tell it to the Bees Review: A predictable tale of forbidden romance. Its a 1950s period piece about the forbidden love between two women and the small Scottish town where they live thats ready to tear them apart with rumors and threats. An absolutely well written and acted film, where the crude violence of prejudices intertwine with love and the magic of it. An excellent film and well worth your time. It might not be a masterpiece - I read the book, and it contained much more of the reality of the times, but the film also contains an awareness that the book lacked. So when youve directed a summer blockbuster that bombed harder than Bomber Harris over Dresden then its hardly surprising you take a 25 year break before your next film and thats whats happened with Annabel Jankel with Tell it to the Bees Not sure what all the hate is about! Overall I give it like a 7/10. But the handsomely-mounted period Adapting writersHenrietta and Jessica Ashworth change the end ofFiona Shaws book drastically, turning a gentle romantic drama into one where theres violence against one of the woman characters and a back alley abortion. Really read the book, it doesn't disappoint. There was magic in the sense that he felt he saved his mother with the help of the bee's because he could talk to them. It strikes me as a movie primarily to be enjoyed for its great character acting. We see too many random extreme close-ups of bees, Lydia's son Charlie sharing his secrets with the bees in their hives, and in the last 20 minutes of the movie, an incident which implies that the bees have developed some sort of preternatural relationship with the boy. w.t.f. The cinematography and production design capture the ambience and restrictive social mores of the "small" 1950s Scottish mill town quite convincingly. Its familiarity will leave some outright bored, and a third act twist will drive many more away. Actresess were ok, story is interesting and scenery is very beautiful. Secrets and lies become a tangled web of messiness that impacts lives and relationships in this story adapted from Fiona Shaw's 2009 novel. This staid period romance is too dour for its own good, failing to find any silver lining to its tragedy. The film tells its story with grace, leaving the audience to decide who, if anyone in particular, are the victims. | Once again a lesbian movie with a bittersweet ending. Lydia and Jeans friendship slowly turns to romance. Just what you want in a romantic movie right? A time when to choose who we loved was considered a vile act, but to act vilely to those that did was expected behaviour. Even though I wasnt familiar with what happens in the book while watching Tell It to the Bees, I could feel something was emotionally out of place. Tell It to the Bees reviews honey-glazed ham of a romance Anna Paquin and Holliday Grainger star in this slightly silly magic-realist adaptation of Fiona Shaws novel Whiff of silliness