Hives: Busy as a Bee

Photo Courtesy  http://i.telegraph.co.uk

Albert Einstein once said: “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left." A conclusion drawn from the fact that there will no more pollinating agents left in the world for it to go on but the inference that can be drawn from the premise of this film is something different. 

The director's hives follows the life of several people at a time when the bee population is mysteriously declining. The film starts with the introduction of the characters as they begin their day. The same repetitive actions and decisions that make up everyday life, they live they die without even recognizing their purpose. They are so caught up in their self proclaimed roles that they forget to live and enjoy life once in a while. The opening sequence of the film starts with one of the main characters looking into a picture of a waterfall and sees it moving. All the characters introduced thereafter are tired of the life they live. Just like bees in their hives they have accepted their roles and try to do their best to keep it that way. But what happens when their seemingly idealistic existence is shattered by some unforeseen event. Something out of the ordinary how they react forms the crux of the plot. Some try their best to fix the problem, to bring it to a state of equilibrium. While others see it as an opportunity to escape but ultimately what the movie highlights are the need to face problems head on and need to push boundaries. As Oscar Wilde once said if you do not define yourself then you will be lost in other people’s definition of you. By drawing a nexus between the bees and humans the director tries to convey that in the end familiarity always leads to destruction but breaking the shackles one discovers oneself and a means for survival. This message is implied in the last scene of the film which shows the reviving bee population after each of the characters has faced their fears. A charming movie filled with moments of hilarity and seriousness that should be given a try.