Swarm Season 2019
Distributed by Grasshopper Film, 12 East 32nd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10016
Produced by Sarah Christman
Directed by Sarah Christman
Streaming, 86 mins
General Adult
Ecology; Native Americans; Outer Space
Date Entered: 01/04/2021
Reviewed by Patti McCall-Wright, Systematic Review Librarian, University of FloridaSarah Christman’s feature debut is an exquisitely filmed masterpiece, seamlessly weaving together the lives of indigenous peoples and science through ten year old Manu and her mother who collect wild bees in remote Hawaii to breed disease resistant colonies, Manu’s father who is protesting the building of a giant telescope on the sacred mountain Mauna Kea, six NASA scientists on a neighboring mountain simulating life on Mars, and the Kilauea volcano that rumbles and sputters with life. The colonies of bees buzz away, working collaboratively and tirelessly as human struggle to work together peacefully and productively and that is one of many possible allegories on could find in hauntingly beautiful Swarm Season.
Awards:
Art of the Real 2019 Selection
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