Sister. Affluent academics, probably liberals, definitely public radio listeners, they live in a beautiful house in a good part of town, drive expensive cars, wear nice clothes. Dad and Junior play string duets in the evening. Junior helps Little Sister with her homework, while Mom and Dad fix dinner. They are the picture of domestic tranquility. Except that this family is hauling around more baggage than a skycap. Saul Nauman (Richard Gere) is a scholar of Cabalism who - having not found God in the written word - is an emotionally distant man with a maniacal sense of self-perfection that extends outward to his family. His wife Miriam (Juliette Binoche), who witnessed the death of her parents when she was young, now breaks into other people's homes and steals useless items in an attempt to "find the light." Son Aaron (Max Minghella) - is undergoing a spiritual crisis and looks for answers in the teachings of Hare Krishna. Daughter Eliza (Flora Cross in a wholly remarkable performance) is a cipher, completely overlooked by her parents until she wins a regional spelling bee. When Eliza's talent for words emerges, Saul forces his attention onto her, providing the catalyst that unravels this delicately woven family. As Eliza advances to the state and national spelling bees, not only do Miriam's and Aaron's secrets come to light, but also - and perhaps more importantly for the whole family - Eliza's sublime ability. Bee Season reminds us that families are conglomerations of individuals, each with his or her own gifts, needs and crises. Directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel show us - with a touch of magical realism - some of those gifts, while resisting the temptation to resolve the crises for us. Bee Season ends on an open note, and we are left hoping that it is a positive one.
Bee Season is rated PG-13.
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