Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on June 2014

Marcus Imhoof interviews bee people around the world about “colony collapse disorder.” The film is as much a celebration of the benefits of the honey bee to mankind as it is a warning that they (and mankind) could disappear. The scariest bit comes from China, where misguided Maoism ended up killing all the bees. Now fruit trees there are pollinated by hand. Warnings aside, it’s terrifically filmed, using micro-cameras designed for medical procedures to capture breathtaking images inside the hives. This mix of essay and nature doc avoids preachiness and offers a swarm of information. Japanese title: Mitsubachi no Daichi.  (95 min)