Queen of the Sun
Collective Eye Films
Unrated
Now Showing at: Kenwood Theatre
Review by: Larry Thomas

Much has been made in ecological circles about bees…or more importantly, how the lack of bees is upsetting the balance of nature. The new documentary Queen of the Sun: What the Bees are Telling Us, is a look at how the world may suffer in future years from the loss of honeybees, probably the most important part of pollination in crops.

Independent filmmaker Taggart Siegel, best know for his film The Real Dirt of Farmer John, takes us on a journey through the bee crisis, with interviews and information from those who care about the plight of the honeybees.

Once you see this film, you’ll think of bees in a completely different light. Rather than consider them something to swat while sitting on your patio, you’ll be enlightened as to their importance in both the balance and sustainability of nature as a whole. The bees are threatened by man in general, but more specifically the lack of habitat, the encroachment of pesticides, and complete lack of nurturing.

One of the more fascinating aspects of Queen of the Sun is the visit with beekeepers, which share their passion and joy for these tiny creatures. It also takes to task those farmers who import bees during the all-important crop-growing season, but neglects their very existence during the rest of the year.

And unlike other ecological polemics, Queen of the Sun takes a rational, factual approach toward the problem. With most problems in nature, and life, it all begins with education and enlightenment. The more people learn about what’s out of whack with our system, the more likely they are to assist in correcting what’s gone wrong over the past decades.

You’ll enjoy meeting several of these beekeepers and getting their take on why these tiny insects are of such importance to our everyday life on this planet. The film is beautifully shot by the director, with a nice original score from composer Jamie Siebel, an electric cellist and vocalist, who lends a nice assist to the proceedings.

Taggart Siegel visited several countries in search of the plight of the honeybee, and has managed to come up with a film that is not only enlightening and important for life in contemporary times, but one that is also entertaining

In an era when under-the-radar documentaries are becoming harder to see in theatres, we are most fortunate that Queen of the Sun is now showing in a regular run at the new Kenwood Theatre. It’s your chance to vote your approval of such bookings with your attendance.