The Beekeeper and his Son

About the Film

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.

Protagonists

The Son Maofu

The Son Maofu

In his early twenties, Maofu is tall, handsome and sensitive. He doesn’t like talking about his feelings, but he likes sharing quotes from books that resonate with his life. As the youngest child of the family, Maofu tends to rely on his parents in making decisions for their family, but he doesn’t like that Laoyu is always giving orders. Maofu is increasingly aware of the need to support and care for his aging parents, but he feels disconnected from his family since his return. Meanwhile, he doesn’t see any future for himself as a migrant worker in the city without higher education. He looks out into the rain from his cave room without a sense of belonging to anywhere.
The Goose

The Goose

One of the two geese in particular likes walking into Maofu’s cave bedroom to listen to Maofu’s music, and accompany Maofu when he is alone. The goose adores both Laoyu and Maofu. He would follow the angry and sad Laoyu, though Laoyu tends to yell at him. But when Maofu is depressed after a fight with Laoyu, the goose would make a low croaking sound and stand quietly with Maofu. All the animals in Laoyu’s family are characters, including the bees, the pigs, the dogs, the cat and the chicken. They observe the reality of the family and navigate among the family members with their own «politics» and humour.

Director

Director

Diedie Weng grew up in Guangdong, Southern China and is currently living between Canada and Switzerland. She received her MFA in documentary production at the State University of New York at Buffalo. After a few short documentary projects, The Beekeeper And His Son is her first feature documentary project.

Filmography: 2016 The Beekeeper and his Son, Directed and shot, 85 Min.; 2012 Ming Day and Night, Directed and shot, 45 Min.; 2007 Mosuo Song Journey, Director, 37 Min.

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

Resolution

HD

Format

DCP

Duration

85min

Aspect Ratio

16:9

Color

Yes

Year

2016

Original Language

Chinese

Subtitles

German, English, Chinese

Country

Switzerland, Canada

ISAN

0000-0004-22CC-0000-5-0000-0000-M