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The Secret Life of Bees Details

2008 Certificate 12
  • 70
  • from 7675 members

Set in South Carolina in 1964, the film is the moving tale of Lily Owens a 14 year-old girl who is haunted by the memory of her late mother. To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father, Lily flees with Rosaleen, her caregiver and only friend, to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother'.. Read more

Starring Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Sophie Okonedo
Director Gina Prince-Bythewood
Genres Drama

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The Secret Life of Bees

Set in South Carolina in 1964, the film is the moving tale of Lily Owens a 14 year-old girl who is haunted by the memory of her late mother. To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father, Lily flees with Rosaleen, her caregiver and only friend, to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother's past. Taken in by the intelligent and independent Boatwright sisters, Lily finds solace in their mesmerizing world of beekeeping, honey and the Black Madonna.

Starring Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Sophie Okonedo, Alicia Keys, Paul Bettany, Hilarie Burton, Nate Parker
Director Gina Prince-Bythewood
Studio 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 1 hr 49 mins
Certificate Certificate 12
Collections 100 Most Wanted
Genres Drama
Released DVD: 30 Mar 2009
Production year: 2008
  • Critics' reviews of The Secret Life of Bees

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  • 3 stars out of

    Some films are touching despite their overly direct, even crude, tugging at our emotions. And many people will no doubt... read more on Time Out

    • Wally Hammond, 
    • Time Out
  • Most helpful member's review of The Secret Life of Bees

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  • 40 out of 43 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 2.0 stars

    Disappointing

    Sorry, it didn't do it for me. Although the preview and the cast looked good, I found the film disappointing. I haven't read the book but I thought ... more

      • A customer from Bromley, Kent
  • Most recent members' review of The Secret Life of Bees

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  • 15 out of 17 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5.0 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Loved it :)

    The whole family enjoyed this family though it wasn't as appreciated quite so much by my husband (he fell asleep briefly!). It's possibly more suited ... more

      • Lynne Manjengwa from Nottinghamshire
  • News and features

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    The Secret Life of Bees

    The Secret Life of Bees

    • 02 Dec 2008

    Some movies start under such a heavy burden, they struggle to get out from under. The Secret Life of Bees boasts much more than an unwieldy title. We’ve got Dakota Fanning as a southern waif, Queen Latifah and Jennifer Hudson in the same movie, Paul Bettany doing a mean South Carolina accent, Alicia Keyes taking on the struggle for civil rights, and before we’ve even settled into our seats we’re treated to the central trauma in Dakota’s life: the day she accidentally... Read more

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Rating breakdown

7,675 Member ratings
  • 100
1,087
  • 90
545
  • 80
2,316
  • 70
1,698
  • 60
1,230
  • 50
318
  • 40
264
  • 30
81
  • 20
96
  • 10
40

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    • The Secret Life of Bees
      Set in South Carolina in 1964, the film is the moving tale of Lily Owens a 14 year-old girl who is haunted by the memory of her late mother. To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father, Lily flees with Rosaleen, her caregiver and only friend, to a South Carolina town that ...