Pride Month 1 film a day challenge:
#2
Where do I even start with this film.................................................... Gosh it's so lovely, it's making me want to cry.
I'm gonna have to do bullet-points cus there's so much i want to talk about.
The fact that this film is based on a novel written by a woman, it's written for screen by two women, directed by a woman, and has two incredible female leads.
The way it gets w|w love so perfectly right (probably due to reasons explained in point 1). It's shown through subtle looks and growing tension, through friendship, understanding and romance. The characters fit so well together. Each of them is a complex, multifaceted, well built character with their own struggles and strength, and they each bring out the best in one another. Jean helps Lydia see her worth, helps her see she can stand on her own. Lydia helps Jean let herself go, conquer her past and breathe out.
Charlie and the bee subplot - honestly amazing. This film said gay rights and bee rights and literally that's all we, the human race, should care about too. The recurring idea of a beehive being composed of mostly females, living in perfect harmony. The recurring theme of bees listening to you, and keeping your secrets. The way Charlie finds purpose in keeping them. The way the bees freaking save the day!!!!!!!!! Oh my god... a dream literally a dream.
Still on Charlie: the way the film destroys toxic masculinity with the figure of his absent father and the way he tells Charlie he needs to be a man, just because he cares about nature.
Annie's subplot: telling yet another woman's story, and adding a interracial relationship too. The scene where they force her miscarriage is haunting and really drives the point of how little women could dictate their own lives then home.
The photography!!!!!! Rural Scotland's a breathtakingly beautiful scenery, but there are countless gorgeous shots all around (when Jean's watching Lydia take a bath........................................... and she looks back......................... poetic cinema).
The only reason I'm not giving this a 10 is, whilst i understand the ending, i still don't think there was a big enough reason for them to end up apart. Just let them be together for god's sake.
9/10
A lovely movie, though a bit disappointed that this film—in my opinion—doesn't live up to its hype.
Decent adaptation of the book, but not quite on the same level. Regardless, still pretty damn good. You'll need tissues.
