REVIEW OF THE CRITERION COLLECTION’S SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE

Posted by Canfield at 1:35pm.

Posted in Film & DVD Reviews , Drama, Mexico & South America, USA & Canada.

For many Spirit of the Beehive is a life film. You remember where you were and what you were doing at the time of life you first saw it. It’s also the type of film that severely tests the patience of those with mainstream tastes. I’ve looked at this film as both someone who just didn’t get it all and as someone absolutely in love with it. When Criterion announced this Special Edition I was absolutely thrilled. Part commentary on Franco, part love letter to the way we are all in awe of the world as children and part testament to power of film Spirit of the Beehive is a must see, must own film for anyone who wants to move from fan to cineaste.

The more you learn to appreciate the language of cinema the bigger the rewards. Spirit of the Beehive is a near perfect example. For those seeking casual entertainment (which is fine) the film will seem almost unbearably slow, and hard to understand. For those open to it’s images, metaphors and symbols Spirit will come alive. Director Victor Erices’ tale of how a young girl is transfixed by a roadshow screening of Frankenstein in her small Castillian village during Franco’s reign is heartbreakingly beautiful to look at and uplifting to meditate on. Even as families are torn, the countryside impoverished two young girls find hope in the journey.

Spirit is often criticized by those who feel it is not hard enough on the Franco regime this is basically pedantry. Spirit isn’t really about Franco’s regime but the criticism of Franco is certainly there when one attempts to grapple with the films context and it’s central metaphor- the beehive where workers are destroyed.

The extras included on this 2 disc set are outstanding. Folks how often do you (even you collectors) watch the extras on your DVD’s? Collectors especially know what I’m talking about. Too often we find ourselves neglecting to study (or make collections available for study or thoughtful viewing) simply because we are trying to outpace our hunger for more newer better editions of movies we already have perfectly serviceable editions of. In this case devour them all. The documentary The Footprints of a Spirit is one of the best I have ever seen on a DVD capturing everything about the history the time the themes the poetry of a film that many consider Spain’s greatest. There is also an interview with Erice by filmmaker Hideyuki Miyaoka and an essay by film scholar Paul Julian Smith.

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Reader Comments

DarkmanPoe 10/06/2006 @ 7:55am

Great review of this brilliant film...I couldn’t agree more.
nitty 10/06/2006 @ 8:10am

Such a great film.This is why I love Criterion.I never even heard of this film but gave it a chance because of Criterion’s track record.
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