Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us?

Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? is a delightful, intriguing, and urgent 2010 documentary film that challenges our current agricultural practices and the mechanised world view towards the intrinsic value of nature.

The film stars Gunther Hauk, Kirk Webster, and Carlo Petrini among others. These individuals are not actors portraying fictitious characters, but real-life agricultural specialists, eco-activists, and biologists featuring as themselves, encouraging discussions related to biodynamic farming and the preservation of bees.

Directed by Taggart Siegel, Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? focuses on the global crisis of bee colony collapse disorder (CCD). CCD is a phenomenon that causes bees to disappear from their hives. It operates on the premise that bees provide more than honey; they play an immense role in pollinating the world's crops. Lose the bees, and humanity faces a serious food shortage.

In this film, Siegel travels across four continents, capturing the stories told by beekeepers, scientists, and philosophers about the significance of bees, their fascinating life cycle, their complex social structure, and their deep-rooted connection with humans and agriculture at large. From the sacred hives of ancient Egypt to the modern industrial hives, the film traverses a historical and global scenario.

One of the movie's central figures is Gunther Hauk, a biodynamic beekeeper, author, and lecturer who serves as an ardent advocate for sustainable and bee-friendly farming practices. You'll hear his beliefs about the spiritual nature of bees, their importance, and the practices in conventional beekeeping that he believes are leading to CCD.

Kirk Webster is a commercial beekeeper from Vermont who practices sustainable and treatment-free beekeeping for more than 30 years. Webster unravels the methods of chemical-free beekeeping and the intense competition brought about by industrial beekeepers.

Carlo Petrini, the Italian founder of the international Slow Food movement, adds yet another perspective to the multifaceted issue. This movement emphasises the promotion of traditional and regional cuisine, advocating for biodiversity in food supply. Petrini expresses his concern over the rapid loss of diverse species of bees and their habitats and how it mirrors our damaged relationship with nature.

Through these individuals, Queen of the Sun probes deeply into the intricate world of bees, their mysterious disappearances, and the impacts on the environment, economies, and world food supply. Filled with insightful interviews, it portrays beautiful close-ups of buzzing bee colonies and a plethora of honey-drenched hives, revealing a complex and troubled story.

The film casts a critical eye on industrial agriculture and monoculture, suggesting that these practices are largely to blame for the decline in bee populations. This is laid against a more romantic, holistic view of biodynamic farming, a type of farming advocating for biodiversity and self-sustainability.

The film uses these narratives to argue that the health of bees is a sign of the health of the world at large. It underscores the urgency of forestalling the global CCD and highlights that our interaction with the natural world has significant consequences for ecosystem health and biodiversity.

In its essence, Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? is an engaging mix of education, entertainment, advocacy, and inspiration that gently urges us to think differently about the humble bee and the critical role they play in our future.

The film weaves an awe-inspiring and engaging narrative highlighting how this tiny insect holds a mirror to humanity. It creatively links the mysterious disappearance of honeybees and the human-influenced environmental imbalance, asking us to take stock of our current relationship with nature.

Queen of the Sun offers a fresh perspective that celebrates the ancient and sacred relationship between humans and bees while exposing the devastating consequences of our disconnection. It is a heartening cinematic journey that will enlighten, encourage and inspire audiences to rekindle a profound harmony with those buzzing creatures, so integral to our survival. Whether you're an environmental enthusiast or an average moviegoer, Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? promises an engaging and heart-rendering viewing experience.