In Beijing, a family has run a beekeeping farm for generations. The middle son is expected to take over, yet the grandfather’s authority dominates every decision. The youngest generation faces its own challenge: the grandson is meant to inherit the farm, but he is afraid of the bees.

Context

In 2018, I was invited by the Academy for International Communication of Chinese Culture (AICCC) to make a documentary in Beijing. Arriving without knowing what to expect, I discovered this fascinating family-run bee farm.

With this film, I explore the delicate tension between tradition, duty, and personal desire in a culture entirely unfamiliar to me.

Crew

Director: Valentin Raeber

Translations: Jenna Guo