VANISHING OF THE BEES

THE PLOT THUS FAR

This documentary takes a piercing investigative look at the economic, political and ecological implications of the worldwide disappearance of the honeybee. The film examines our current agricultural landscape and celebrates the ancient and sacred connection between man and the honeybee. The story highlights the positive changes that have resulted due to the tragic phenomenon known as “Colony Collapse Disorder.” To empower the audience, the documentary provides viewers with tangible solutions they can apply to their everyday lives. Vanishing of the Bees unfolds as a dramatic tale of science and mystery, illuminating this extraordinary crisis and its greater meaning about the relationship between humankind and Mother Earth. The bees have a message – but will we listen?

WHAT WE THOUGHT

It’s a phenomenon with a name — Colony Collapse Disorder — but no explanation or solution exists. This documentary details the economic, political and ecological consequences of a dwindling world honeybee population. It also lends a personal perspective to the problem by tagging along with a pair of commercial beekeepers as they struggle to keep their bees hearty enough to fulfill their pollination contracts.There’s a fantastic cast of beekeepers and related tradespeople, who feel passionately about the issues involved. When a film is this important and this well intentioned, it’s always hard to resist giving it a higher star rating, but unfortunately there are technical problems here that will annoy some viewers.

Both tragic and inspiring, the call to action of the film is clear: Honeybees are threatened by everything from the pesticides we use on our mono-crops, to the lack of plant diversity established from such crop formations, to climate change and harsh industrial shipping practices. Honeybees, in short, are exhausted and are disappearing at an alarming rate across the world. Vanishing of the Bees highlights that without them, we have no food and the balance of nature is dangerously off. Watch the film to learn and then educate those around you.