More Than Honey

This may sound excessively hyperbolic, but I'm actually pretty shameless when I say that "More Than Honey" is one of the best documentaries I've ever seen. Every good documentary's events are framed in some narrative form and "Honey" does not disappoint; the film deftly contrasts the bee farming practices of both American and European farmers. Director Markus Imhoof really managed to get some fantastic, heartfelt interviews from all sides of this issue. While the film certainly identifies potential causes as to why the bees are disappearing, it wisely refrains from ever vilifying them.

"More Than Honey" also works surprisingly well as a nature documentary, which I attribute entirely to its fantastic cinematography. The macro-photography ventures all the way inside bee hives to show them in their nature habitat, and really breathes excitement into some of the films slower parts. The narration is helpful and informative, allowing even a casual viewer to learn a thing or two about bees along the way. As Eric Kohn from Indiewire puts it: ""Makes a convincing argument for the role of bees sustaining both organic and industrial concerns…(an) effective melding of science and aesthetic delights." 10/10 stars.

I think it's pretty certain that Albert Einstein did not say "If bees were to disappear from the globe, mankind would only have four years to live."

That's a bit emblematic of my feelings about this documentary. It's filled with a lot of stunning bee photography and genuinely engaging and weird facts about bees ... people transport live bees by mail you know ... but it's also weirdly lackadaisical. It's a lot of fun if you want to stare at bees for an hour and a half.

At the end (SPOILER, I guess) a whole hive of bees just ups and leaves, and their beekeeper can't do anything about it. That's awesome.

A great example of how societies, in particular the largest abusive industrialized one, has removed themselves from the natural ecosystem and with total disrespect for that system which they are destroying. I can only assume how difficult it was to do this documentary and congratulate all involved. I have said for decades how we are like the snake eating its' own tail thus devouring itself and taking along with it nature, the innocent and the provider.

If you don't get the "noughties" reference, there was a song. Actually there are more than one song referring to Honey, as in spouse or at least girlfriend. But we are talking about actual honey here. And the movie has some devastating blows to deliver. It is also about the bees and the way we are treating them.

A very interesting and intriguing documentary, it shows that sometimes they have more to offer than fiction movies. Not to mention that they should affect us more. Hopefully it will also take away the fear of bees many of us have, but I do doubt that. Bees should be more afraid of us actually. Watch this fantastic movie, that is heartbreaking too

More than Honey is a must see for every one. It should be shown in all schools and universities. This documentation contains many information about the secrets of the bees. The danger of their existence is told in a good comprehensive way. Then the shootings with the macro camera are unique what I never saw before. The worldwide research on the greatest continents is well studied and executed. The director created a very interesting movie that was never boring. At the end the audience can imagine itself the cause of the mass death of these wonderful and indispensable insects for our humanity. I hope we all are responsible about the possible consequences of the nature. Final rate: 6.5/10.