The Spanish film “20,000 Species of Bees” will be released on January 5, 2024 (Fri.) at Shinjuku Musashino Theater, Human Trust Cinema Shibuya, and other theaters nationwide. In addition, a poster visual and scene photos have been released.
The film features Sofia Otero, a new actor selected by audition from approximately 500 people, who won the Best Leading Actor Award at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival at the age of 8, the youngest actor ever to win the award. The film depicts the main character, who is struggling with her gender identity, from the perspectives of not only herself but also her mother, grandmother, and three other generations, as they live out their lives with their own ideas.
The film was directed by Estivalis Ursola Solagren, who has made many short films and whose work was screened in the Directors’ Fortnight at the 75th Cannes International Film Festival. His feature film debut, “The Last of Us,” won the Guild Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival and the Best Spanish Film Award at the 26th Málaga Spanish Film Festival, garnering attention from around the world.
The film will be premiered at the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival on October 23 (Monday), and director Estivalis Urrezola Solagren is scheduled to visit Japan during the festival.
The Honeybee and I
Director/Screenplay: Estivaris Urrezola Solagren Cinematography: Gina Ferrer Garcia Art Director: Izaskun Urquijo Editing: Raul Barreras
Cast: Sofia Otero Patricia Lopez Arnaiz Ane Gavarain
2023/Spain/128 min/1:1.85/Spanish, Basque, French/English title: 20,000 SPECIES OF BEES/Color/5.1ch/Subtitle: Misae Otsuka
Distributor: Unplugged Support: Embassy of Spain in Japan © 2023 GARIZA FILMS INICIA FILMS SIRIMIRI FILMS ESPECIES DE ABEJAS AIE
Story: A family from France comes to Spain for a summer vacation. 8-year-old Aitor does not know his gender identity, and he is troubled by his discomfort and uncomfortable feelings, so he shuts down his mind. His mother loves him, but is at a loss as to how to deal with him. One day, she learns about the ecology of bees at her aunt’s apiary, and through contact with bees and nature, Aitor’s heart becomes relaxed, and her desire to accept diversity and live life as it is grows stronger.
