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More Than Honey opened at the Film Forum on Wednesday, June 12th via Kino Lorber. Director Markus Imhoof follows two beekeepers from two different parts of the world. John Miller raises bees on his Florida bee farm for orchards. He candidly admits that profit and growth is the bottom line for his industry. How can unlimited growth be safe for mankind in a world where resources are limited, though? That question remains unexplored, unfortunately. Miller transports his bees on a truck which causes a lot of stress for the bees and, in some cases, leads to their death. Once on the orchard farms, the bees begin to help with the essential natural process of pollination as they go from flower to flower. Bright and colorful flowers, as we learn, are pollinated by bees, but all other flowers (roughly 20%) use the wind as a means of spreading their pollen. In Switzerland, Fred Jaggi runs a bee farm using more traditional methods of beekeeping. Both Miller and Jaggi have noticed the decrease in the population of bees which is quite a frightening observation. In China, where the number of bees has decreased very heavily, workers replace bees by packaging pollen to be used for what the bees know how to do most efficiently and effectively. You'll learn a lot about the complex behaviors of bees via shots of them up close Microcosmos-style. Those breathtaking shots contrast with the many horrifying shots of bees dying. More Than Honey doesn't quite analyze the different theories regarding the cause of the bees' deaths around the world, but it does highlight the tremendous value that bees have in our ecosystem. The most enraging documentary opening this week is Call Me Kuchu about David Kato, the first openly gay man in Uganda who desperately struggles to stop a bill that would make homosexuality punishable by death. Any Ugandan citizen who fails to report anyone who they know is homosexual face a 3-year prison sentence. Shockingly, a local newspaper titled Rolling Stone ousts gays and lesbians by showing their names and photos. One lesbian whose name and photo was published there had to move to a new home because she feared her for her life. Co-directors Katherine Fairfax Wright and Malika Zouhali-Worrall do a great job of shedding light on an under-publicized human rights issue taking place in Uganda. The activists who help Kato to fight the inhumane legislation are persistent, brave and, most importantly, inspiring examples of individuals who have a moral conscience and aren't afraid to stand up for their beliefs no matter how subversive they may seem within the context of the close-minded Ugandan government. Kato himself comes across as articulate, honest, kindhearted, smart, witty and charismatic--if only those same qualities could be found in Uganda's corrupt politicians. He comes closest to Uganda's Harvey Milk, so it's a true loss to the gay rights movement that he was murdered in 2011. Thanks to the eye-opening Call Me Kuchu, Kato's legacy will live on. It opens at the Cinema Village via Cinedigm. At Lincoln Plaza Cinemas, you'll find the equally delightful and illuminating doc Far Out Isn't Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story released by First Run Features. Director Brad Bernstein brings out the wit, warmth and wisdom of author/illustrator Tomi Ungerer through intimate interviews with him. Much of the film focuses on Ungerer's rise to fame as an artist and what makes his works so controversial and funny to boot. Fortunately, though, the story of his life is quite interesting or at least Ungerer describes it without making it dry or tediou. In other words, he's not only a great storyteller via illustrations, but also verbally. Bernstein also gives the doc a great, slick look with crisp editing so that not a single moment drags. Ultimately, this is the kind of doc that will make you want to rush out to purchase the subject's artworks right after watching it, and you'll also be engaged by it even if you're not a fan of Ungerer as an artist; you'll be a fan of him as a person. If Hollywood were to make a biopic about him, hopefully they won't screw it up like they usually do. Main Page Alphabetical Menu Chronological Menu ______________________________________________________ |
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