Parvaz-e zanbur

Can't say I have seen a film from Tajikistan, which is where Flight of the Bee originates. Even had to go look it up on a map afterwards just to know where it was!

It looks like it is a Russian occupied province north of Afghanistan and just south of the Russian border.

Anyway, Flight of the Bee is a wonderful little story about two feuding neighbours. One, a simple teacher at the local school, is unfuriated when his wealthy neighbour builds his toilet right on their boundary line. The stench is unbearable, and the teacher tries to come to some sort of amicable arrangement. It fails.

So he decides to buy his grandfathers property (which borders on the other side), and build a toilet right under the owners bedroom window. This involves digging a big hole ("I want this toilet to last seven generations"). And I mean a *big* hole.

A whimsical tale that hides some strong messages, Flight of the Bee was an absolute delight to watch. Behind its fun exterior there are some darker themes; the teachers family is near destitute because he has spent all his money writing a book which has yet to be finished or published; he ignores all around him and continues to dig the well, forsaking his book and his teaching.

There is a lot in this simple film to mull over afterwards. A journey well worth it.

8 out of 10