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Reviews
Tell It to the Bees (2018)
Good until the homophobic ending
Tell it to the Bees, the book, is a beautiful, atmospheric love story set in the 1950s. Tell it to the Bees, the movie, is a cowardly dud with a 1950s performative morality that wastes the talents of the of a brilliant cast. It is however, thankfully, one step short of "the lesbian must die" trope, so there's that.
Fiona Shaw's tender and patient 2010 novel has every element for a successful movie, but the studio decided to shoot itself in the foot by exchanging an emotionally uplifting ending, which satisfactorily resolves the story lines of both of Charlie's parents, for a bastardized faux-moralistic dangling ending stitched on to avoid frightening straight homophobes.
Read the marvelous book instead of wasting time on a movie you'll want to throw your shoe at.
Nothing Like the Sun (2018)
Heartbreakingly realistic
This is a period movie, but it could easily be set today anywhere fundamentalist hate is more powerful than God's love. This story line hits all true notes for anyone who grew up in the kind of performative, judgmental religion that is more about fervor than faith. Great acting, particularly by the lead, Stefanie Estes.
It has to be difficult for anyone who didn't live this repression and condemnation first hand to understand how closely this script portrays the real experiences of those who did. Contrary to a previous review, it is not at all exaggerated or unrealistic. In fact, A Sweetest Kiss is so real it makes every cell in my body ache.