Tell It to the Bees

{{Infobox film

| name = Tell It to the Bees

| image = Tell It to the Bees (film poster 2019).jpg

| alt =

| caption =

| director = Annabel Jankel

| producer = {{plainlist|

Daisy Allsop
Nick Hill
Annabel Jankel
Nik Bower
Laure Vaysse

}}

| screenplay = {{plainlist|

Henrietta Ashworth
Jessica Ashworth

}}

| based_on = Tell It to the Bees by Fiona Shaw

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| narrator = Billy Boyd

| music = Claire M Singer

| cinematography = Bartosz Nalazek

| editing = {{Plainlist |

Jon Harris
Maya Maffioli

}}

| production_companies = {{Plainlist|

Reliance Entertainment Productions 8
Archface Films
Taking A Line For A Walk
Riverstone Pictures
Cayenne Film Company
Motion Picture Capital

}}

| distributor = Vertigo Releasing

| released = {{Film date|2018|9|9|Toronto|2019|7|26|United Kingdom|df=yes}}

| runtime = 106 minutes

| country = United Kingdom

| language = English

| budget =

| gross =

}}

Tell It to the Bees is a 2018 British romantic drama film directed by Annabel Jankel and starring Anna Paquin and Holliday Grainger. The screenplay by Henrietta and Jessica Ashworth{{Cite web|url=http://www.unitedagents.co.uk/henrietta-jessica-ashworth|title=Henrietta & Jessica Ashworth|last=|first=|date=2018|website=United Agents|accessdate=8 August 2018}} is based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Fiona Shaw.{{cite web|title=Tell it to the Bees|url=http://www.fiona-shaw.com/books/tell-it-to-the-bees/|website=Fiona Shaw|date=9 August 2017|accessdate=17 August 2018}}

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival as a Special Presentation on 9 September 2018.{{Cite web|title=Tell It To The Bees|url=https://www.tiff.net/tiff/tell-it-to-the-bees/|website=TIFF|date=2018|accessdate=6 September 2018}}{{cite web|last1=Berger|first1=Laura|title=TIFF Adds More Galas and Special Presentations: Pics from Sam Taylor-Johnson, Veena Sud, & More|url=https://womenandhollywood.com/tiff-adds-more-galas-and-special-presentations-pics-from-sam-taylor-johnson-veena-sud-more/|website=Women and Hollywood|date=August 14, 2018|accessdate=6 September 2018}}{{cite web|last1=Fleming|first1=Mike Jr.|title=TIFF Adds Sam Taylor-Johnson's 'A Million Little Pieces,' Paul Greengrass' '22 July', Joel Edgerton's 'Boy Erased' To Preem List|url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/a-million-little-pieces-paul-greengrass-22-july-joel-edgertons-boy-erased-to-gala-list-1202445146/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 14, 2018|accessdate=15 August 2018 }} Tell It to the Bees opened in limited release in the United States on 3 May 2019. It was released theatrically in the United Kingdom on 26 July 2019.{{cite web|title=Tell It To The Bees|url=https://www.launchingfilms.com/release-schedule?filmSearch=tell+it+to+the+bees|website=Launching Films|publisher=Film Distributors' Association|date=2019|accessdate=3 June 2019}}

Plot

With her failing marriage and young son, Lydia (Grainger) starts to connect with the town's new doctor Jean (Paquin), who bonds with Lydia's son Charlie after he takes an interest in her bee colonies. However, in 1950s rural Scotland, the women's relationship raises questions after the mother and son start to live with her after they get evicted.

Cast

Anna Paquin as Jean Markham
Holliday Grainger as Lydia Weekes
Emun Elliott as Robert Weekes
Lauren Lyle as Annie Cranmer
Gregor Selkirk as Charlie Weekes
Billy Boyd as adult Charlie vocal narrator
Kate Dickie as Pam Cranmer
Steven Robertson as Jim

Production

=Development=

In June 2012, the original screenplay written by Irena Brignull was presented to the British Film Institute (BFI).{{cite news|last1=Shaw|first1=Fiona|title=Tell it to the Bees screenplay off to the BFI|url=http://www.fiona-shaw.com/tell-it-to-the-bees-film/tell-it-to-the-bees-screenplay-off-to-the-bfi/|website=fiona-shaw.com|date=3 June 2012|accessdate=28 September 2018}} Funding for the project was thereafter secured from the BFI Film Fund and Creative Scotland.{{cite web|last1=Gant|first1=Charles|title='Super Mario Bros' director on her comeback 'Tell It To The Bees', starring Anna Paquin, Holliday Grainger|url=https://www.screendaily.com/features/super-mario-bros-director-on-her-comeback-tell-it-to-the-bees-starring-anna-paquin-holliday-grainger-/5130129.article|website=Screen Daily|date=14 June 2018|accessdate=8 July 2018 }}{{cite web|title=Tell It To The Bees starts shooting as cast revealed|url=http://www.creativescotland.com/what-we-do/latest-news/archive/2017/08/shooting-starts-on-tell-it-to-the-bees|website=Creative Scotland|date=10 August 2017|accessdate=15 August 2018}}{{cite web|last1=Grater|first1=Tom|title=BFI annual report unveils total production awards, staff costs, lottery income|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/bfi-annual-report-unveils-total-production-awards-staff-costs-lottery-income/5131572.article|website=Screen Daily|date=9 August 2018|accessdate=28 September 2018}} The initial production budget in 2015 was £5 million.{{cite web|last1=Geoghegan|first1=Kev|title=The business of Cannes: Part 1 (Daisy Allsop)|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32495212 |website=BBC News|date=14 May 2015|accessdate=28 September 2018}}

In May 2017, the producers announced that Holliday Grainger was to star in the film.{{cite web|last1=Grater|first1=Tom|title=Holliday Grainger boards 'Tell It To The Bees' with Film Constellation|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/holliday-grainger-boards-tell-it-to-the-bees-with-film-constellation/5118222.article|website=Screen Daily|date=20 May 2017|accessdate=15 August 2018}} In August 2017, Anna Paquin joined the cast as Doctor Jean Markham.{{cite web|last1=Ritman|first1=Alex|title=Anna Paquin Joins Lesbian Romance 'Tell It to the Bees' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/anna-paquin-joins-lesbian-romance-tell-bees-1028348|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=August 10, 2017|accessdate=17 August 2018}}{{cite web|last1=Tartaglione|first1=Nancy|title=Anna Paquin Will 'Tell It To The Bees' With Holliday Grainger In Period Romance|url=https://deadline.com/2017/08/anna-paquin-cast-tell-it-to-the-bees-holliday-grainger-annabel-frankel-1202146205/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 10, 2017|accessdate=17 August 2018 }}{{cite web|last1=Clarke|first1=Stewart|title=Anna Paquin Joins 'Tell It to the Bees' Movie Adaptation|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/global/anna-paquin-tell-it-to-the-bees-1202522508/|work=Variety|date=August 10, 2017|accessdate=8 July 2018}} Unlike the novel, which is set in Yorkshire, the film takes place in northern Scotland.

Tell It to the Bees is produced by Reliance Entertainment Productions 8, Archface Films, Taking A Line For A Walk, Riverstone Pictures, Cayenne Film Company, Motion Picture Capital; and co-produced by Filmgate Films, Twickenham Studios and Film i Väst.{{cite web|last1=Grater|first1=Tom|title=Anna Paquin boards UK lesbian romance 'Tell It To The Bees'|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/anna-paquin-boards-uk-lesbian-romance-tell-it-to-the-bees/5120736.article|website=Screen Daily|date=10 August 2017|accessdate=28 September 2018}} Film Constellation handled international distribution rights.{{cite web|title=Tell It to the Bees|url=https://www.efp-online.com/en/films/11427/|website=European Film Promotion|date=2018|accessdate=15 September 2018}}

The North American rights were acquired from Film Constellation by Good Deed Entertainment on 30 October 2018.{{cite web|last1=Barraclough|first1=Leo|title=Anna Paquin's 'Tell It to the Bees' Flies to U.S. With Good Deed (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/global/anna-paquins-tell-it-to-the-bees-us-rights-good-deed-1203015322/|work=Variety|date=October 30, 2018|accessdate=10 March 2019}} Distribution rights for Germany, Spain, Korea, and Taiwan were sold on 4 November 2018,{{cite web|last1=Grater|first1=Tom|title=UK romance 'Tell It To The Bees' racks up further deals (exclusive)|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/uk-romance-tell-it-to-the-bees-racks-up-further-deals-exclusive/5134265.article|website=Screen Daily|date=4 November 2018|accessdate=10 March 2019}} followed by rights to Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, and Poland on 7 February 2019, as well as acquisition by Vertigo Releasing for the United Kingdom.{{cite web|last1=Grater|first1=Tom|title=Annabel Jankel's 'Tell It To The Bees' sells to key territories for Film Constellation (exclusive)|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/annabel-jankels-tell-it-to-the-bees-sells-to-key-territories-for-film-constellation-exclusive/5136645.article|website=Screen Daily|date=7 February 2019|accessdate=10 March 2019}}

=Filming=

Principal photography began on 10 August 2017 in Scotland, with filming near Stirling.{{cite web|last1=Paterson|first1=Kirsteen|title=Film crew's bee-line for Stirlingshire as Oscar winner Paquin joins cast|url=http://www.thenational.scot/news/15466883.Film_crew___s_bee-line_for_Stirlingshire_as_Oscar_winner_Paquin_joins_cast/|work=The National|date=10 August 2017|accessdate=15 September 2018}}{{cite web|last1=Marzella|first1=Chris|title=Game of Thrones star and Oscar winner featuring in movie filming near Stirling|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/game-thrones-star-oscar-winner-11010077|website=Daily Record|date=18 August 2017|accessdate=15 September 2018}} (originally published in Stirling Observer as "Deanston takes step back in time as 1950s film set".)

Soundtrack

The original score was written by Scottish composer Claire M Singer.{{cite web|title=Claire M. Singer Scoring Annabel Jankel's 'Tell It to the Bees'|url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2018/08/20/claire-m-singer-scoring-annabel-jankels-tell-it-to-the-bees/|website=Film Music Reporter|date=20 August 2018|accessdate=15 September 2018}} The soundtrack album was released on 3 May 2019.{{cite web|title='Tell It to the Bees' Soundtrack Details|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2019/05/02/tell-it-to-the-bees-soundtrack-details/|website=Film Music Reporter|date=2 May 2019|accessdate=3 June 2019}}

Release

File:Holliday Grainger, Tell It To Th Bees.jpg.]]

Tell It to the Bees premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September 2018.{{cite web|last1=Hunter|first1=Allan|title='Tell It To The Bees': Toronto Review|url=https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/tell-it-to-the-bees-toronto-review/5132485.article|website=Screen Daily|accessdate=15 September 2018|date=9 September 2018}}{{cite web|last1=Butler|first1=Hillary|title=TIFF 2018: In Conversation with Director Annabel Jankel of Tell it To the Bees|url=http://www.liveforfilm.com/2018/09/12/tiff-2018-in-conversation-with-director-annabel-jankel-of-tell-it-to-the-bees/|website=Live for Films|date=12 September 2018|accessdate=15 September 2018}} The first movie clip was released on 6 September in advance of the world premiere.{{cite web|last1=Wiseman |first1=Andreas|title='Tell It To The Bees': First Footage Of Anna Paquin & Holliday Grainger In TIFF Romance-Drama|url=https://deadline.com/2018/09/tell-it-to-the-bees-first-footage-of-anna-paquin-holliday-grainger-in-tiff-romance-drama-1202458152/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=6 September 2018|accessdate=15 September 2018}}

It premiered in limited theatrical release in the U.S. on 3 May 2019.{{Cite tweet|user=TITTBmovie |author=Tell It to the Bees |number=1124444374316638209 |date=3 May 2019 |title=#TellItToTheBees is now available for you to see at... |accessdate=3 June 2019}}{{cite web|last1=Billington|first1=Alex|title=Anna Paquin & Holliday Grainger in First Trailer for 'Tell It to the Bees'|url=https://www.firstshowing.net/2019/anna-paquin-holliday-grainger-in-official-trailer-for-tell-it-to-the-bees/|website=FirstShowing|date=March 8, 2019|accessdate=10 March 2019}}

=Home media=

In the U.S., the film was made available as VOD on 3 May 2019.

Reception

=Critical response=

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has {{a or an|{{RT data|score}}}} rating based on {{RT data|count}} reviews by professional critics, and an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The website's critical consensus reads, "Tell It to the Bees is well-acted and well-intentioned — but often undermined by its frustratingly didactic storytelling."{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tell_it_to_the_bees|title=Tell It to the Bees|website=Rotten Tomatoes|date=3 May 2019 |publisher=Fandango|access-date={{RT data|access date|df=dmy}}}} On Metacritic, the film received a score of 50/100 based on 13 reviews from critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web|title=Tell It to the Bees|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/tell-it-to-the-bees|website=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|date=2019|accessdate=3 June 2019}}

References

External links

[http://gooddeedentertainment.com/tellittothebees/ Official website] at Good Deed Entertainment
{{IMDb title|7241926}}
[https://www.filmconstellation.com/tell-it-to-the-bees Tell It to the Bees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920130644/https://www.filmconstellation.com/tell-it-to-the-bees |date=20 September 2020 }} at Film Constellation
[https://web.archive.org/web/20180708191701/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/5a1c9c2de107f Tell It to the Bees] at the British Film Institute{{better source needed|reason=Help request: a live link can be searched for at https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/search/expert - if available, replace the archive URL with the live link. Or if none found, remove this 'better source needed' template. | date=October 2023}}
[http://film.britishcouncil.org/tell-it-to-the-bees Tell It to the Bees] at British Council {{!}} Film

Category:2018 films

Category:2018 LGBTQ-related films

Category:2018 romantic drama films

Category:British independent films

Category:British LGBTQ-related films

Category:British romantic drama films

Category:Films based on British novels

Category:Films based on romance novels

Category:Films set in the 1950s

Category:British historical romance films

Category:Lesbian-related films

Category:LGBTQ-related romantic drama films