The Honey Makers

A foreign couple are dealing with two problems: a gang of skinheads and a bee nest.

Arjun (Goutnam) and his wife (Aalia) are an Indian couple from Uganda living in North London in 1984. They work at the shop, which the own. Unfortunately, they are being menaced by a group of skinhead youths that hang around outside their store. And if that was not enough, bees have formed a large beehive in the back garden of their shop. The two of them need to find a solution for both issues if they are to find solace. A beekeeper (Lynch) arrives and what follows is a conversation between him and the shopkeepers about their past, bees and confrontation with the vicious people.

This is a multi-award-winning short drama about immigration, antisocial behaviour, racism and bees. It addresses social issues and depicts what the poor couple have to endure rather vividly. The skinheads tend to remain outside the shop, shouting and giving the couple threatening stares and occasionally walk in and intimidate them into giving them goods for free.

Interestingly, comparisons are made between the skinheads and the bees. For instance, when the couple and the beekeeper talk about how the bees tend to find a spot to create a nest and stay there, it is implied that a similar thing could be said about the gang, as apparently, they have chosen to hang around the shop.

The acting is superb. Goutnam and Aalia are very convincing as hard-working individuals who just want a peaceful life. Lynch is sympathetic as a friendly beekeeper who knows his trade very well and cares about others. Great praise goes to the actors playing the tattooed skinheads, who are very menacing as aggressive young men, willing to resort to violence.

The sound has good quality when the buzzing of bees is heard and the song I Shake by Sean van Doornum is an appropriate addition. Susanne Salavati does an amazing job with the cinematography.

This is a rather interesting achievement that contains tense and dramatic moments and well written dialogue. It tackles issues regarding racism and yob violence and will likely leave the viewer with a thoughtful experience.