The Secret Life of Bees

Having read the book and liking it, I found this movie to have the right combination of harsh reality and sentimentality. There are two sets of worker bees here; the actually insects and the women who continue to produces though in the middle of the prejudicial South. Queen Latifah (the queen bee) is incredible, backed up be an excellent cast. The young woman played by Dakota Fanning, is a bet weak at times, but the story carries things along. Her precociousness gets contrasted to her naivete a bit often. There are scenes of great emotion and sadness; also of great violence. We all need sanctuary at times and the women are willing to give this, even though they are dealing with a white girl who could bring trouble at any time. There are a few times when some stupid things are done and you wish they weren't, but this is a movie about hopes and dreams and reconciliation.