| Format | DCP |
|---|---|
| Duration | 85 min |
| Year | 2016 |
| Original Language | Chinese |
| Subtitles | German, English, Chinese |
| Country | Switzerland, Canada |
| ISAN | 0000-0004-22CC-0000-5-0000-0000-M |
The Beekeeper and his Son
A film by Diedie Weng
Synopsis
After drifting as a migrant worker in the city for a year, Maofu returns to his family bee farm in rural Northern China. Maofu brings along big ideas for marketing and honey sales. However, his father Lao Yu emphasizes a heart felt connection with the bees which comes from generations of traditional beekeeping.
Now, in his declining years, Lao Yu witnesses the environmental degradation and pollution that has also depleted his bee colonies. He is struggling with his own self-worth and values, and mixed emotions of whether his son should even stay in this traditional area of work and trade. In the end, he makes the ultimate sacrifice cutting down a family tree, to build the new bee boxes while securing a portion of it for his own coffin. The animals on the farm echo the emotional intensities of father and son, sometimes providing an unexpected comic relief.
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«You keep bees. What do bees give you? They make honey. You can’t just read marketing books, and dream about profit.»
More Infos
- Credits
Cast
Yangui Yu
Maofu Yu
Chengnuo Chang
Maomei Yu
Maolan Yu
Jiayi
Jiaqi
Mingzi
Director, Author, Cinematography
Diedie Weng
Dramaturgy, Co-Writer, Cinematography
Vadim Jendreyko
Editors
Vadim Jendreyko
Annette Brütsch
Mahi Rahogozar
Diedie Weng
Producers
Susanne Guggenberger
Vadim Jendreyko
Lucie Tremblay
Diedie Weng
Associate Producer
Hercli Bundi
Production Manager China
Pingjun Ding
Original Music
Daniel Almada
Sound Design and Mix
Daniel Almada / TSL Studio
Pascal Dominique
Original Sound Recordings
Diedie Weng
City and Sound Recordings
Vadim Jendreyko
Postproduction and DCP
Hannes Rüttimann, Simon Allard
Postproduction Manager Canada
Nguqen-Anh Nguyen, Roxane de Konninck
Consulting
Deborah Palloway, Pingjun Ding
Translation & Subtitles
submarines–subtitling & translation
Lowik Media, Roxanne de Konnick
Production
Mira Film GmbH, Zürich
in Coproduction with
Lowik Media, Montréal
SRF Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen
Commissioning Editor
Urs Augstburger
National Coordination SRG SSR
Sven Wälti
Financially supported by
Bundesamt für Kultur
MEDIA Desk Suisse
Zürcher Filmstiftung
Fachausschuss Audiovision und
Multimedia der Kantone Basel Land & Basel Stadt
éducation 21 - Filme für eine Welt
Robert Bosch Stiftung
Succès Passage Antenne
Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit
Ontario Arts Council
- Technical Details
- Festivals
DOXA - Documentary Film Festival Vancouver, Kanada, 2017
May 04, 2017 - May 14, 2017
Environmental Film Festival Washington, 2017
March 14, 2017 - March 26, 2017
Cinema Asia Film Festival Amsterdam, 2017
March 07, 2017 - March 12, 2017
Solothurner Filmtage, 2017
January 19, 2017 - January 26, 2017
Doc NYC, 2016
November 10, 2016 - November 17, 2016
Nara International Festival, 2016
September 17, 2016 - September 22, 2016
International Documentary Festival (EIDF), South Korea, August 2016
August 21, 2016 - August 27, 2016
