Spirit of the Beehive

El espiritu de la colmena, a Spanish film from 1973.

This is actually the film I watched on my first movie date with my husband. He chose the film because it was Spanish and I was living in Madrid at the time and thought I would enjoy it. The first time I watched it, it was so subtle and dense that it took a while for it to settle in my consciousness.  Over time, it’s magic and spell over me has grown profoundly.

I am captivated by Ana’s innocence, curiosity and embrace of the monster (Frankenstein) which is so poignant and a stunningly accurate portrayal of childhood perception. I find her older sister Isabel’s behavior, slightly more tuned into the knowledge of the adult world, so interesting as she takes on a role of mischief, wickedness and manipulation. And there this interesting dynamic with the parents, in which you see the weight of the world on their shoulders. They seem so wrapped up in their minds even though they deeply care about their children.

Something about it reminds me of my childhood summers in Mexico. I can remember my Papa keeping bees. I remember the smell of wood and the beeswax, in my Papa’s workshop and what its like to feel like a child so small and curious, believing everyone else has it worked out except you.