Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us?
A Collective Eye Production | Release Date: June 10, 2011 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
67
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews
Positive:
13
Mixed:
2
Negative:
1
Watch Now
Buy on
Stream On

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
Boxoffice MagazinePam GradyJun 7, 2011
As entertaining as it is educational. Read full review
83
Portland OregonianShawn LevyJun 7, 2011
The message here is vital, though, and Siegel retains the gift of making you dream of making a difference. Read full review
80
NPRIan BuckwalterJun 10, 2011
Promoting understanding and appreciation of the beauty of the bees and our intertwined relationship with them is also presented as a vital part of the equation. Read full review
75
New York PostV.A. MusettoJun 10, 2011
A beautiful nature film, with gorgeous, multicolored shots of bees and flowers. It also is a well-made documentary about the troubles of the honeybee. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertJun 7, 2011
A remarkable documentary that's also one of the most beautiful nature films I've seen. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleWalter AddiegoJun 7, 2011
Among the film's more intriguing revelations is the key role California's almond crop plays in the nation's bee industry. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesGary GoldsteinJun 16, 2011
It's not all doom and gloom. This crisply shot picture also offers stirring views of these industrious little creatures, their complex habitats and the rich amber goodness they create. Some jaunty animation enlivens things as well. Read full review
70
The New York TimesJeannette CatsoulisJun 9, 2011
Mr. Siegel is no Cassandra: retaining the waggish tone of his previous documentary, "The Real Dirt on Farmer John" (released in 2007), he balances the doom-talking heads with cute animation and characters like Yvon Achard, a French "bee historian" who caresses the swarm with his elaborately styled facial hair. Read full review
70
Village VoiceMark HolcombJun 7, 2011
True to form, Queen of the Sun presents inspiring and direct solutions from the likes of journalist Michael Pollan, activist Vandana Shiva, and biodynamic farmer and author Gunther Hauk, but it also glosses over the question of how migratory beekeepers, among others, would make a living if those fixes were enacted. Read full review
70
VarietyAlissa SimonJun 7, 2011
A creative exploration of the global honeybee crisis replete with remarkable nature cinematography, some eccentric characters and yet another powerful argument for organic, sustainable agriculture in balance with nature. Read full review
70
Chicago ReaderJ.R. JonesJun 7, 2011
The documentary begins to lose its shape as Siegel ponders the spiritual and cultural impact of the honeybee, but it does succeed in flagging a potentially critical problem. Read full review
67
The A.V. ClubSam AdamsJun 9, 2011
A fine enough piece of work, but it's a shame Werner Herzog didn't get to Gunther Hauk first. Read full review
63
Slant MagazineDiego SemereneJun 7, 2011
Queen of the Sun is honey pornography with an activist heart. Read full review
60
New York Daily NewsJoe NeumaierJun 10, 2011
This hard-working film may not be a balm, but it can help. Read full review
60
Time OutAndrew SchenkerJun 7, 2011
Where have all the bees gone? That's the question Taggart Siegel's documentary attempts to answer by interviewing organic farmers about the phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder. Read full review
38
Boston GlobeMark FeeneyJun 23, 2011
The first step in getting beyond preaching to the converted is letting the other side show how wrong it might be. Read full review
More From This Movie

67 Critic Reviews

6.0 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 77 Project Hail Mary
2 75 Send Help
3 73 Hoppers
4 72 The Sheep Detectives
5 63 Normal
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL