
The Bees and the Birds
2018

2019
Director
Ellen Fiske, Ellinor Hallin
Runtime
87 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetSynopsis
As her adolescence gives way to the obligations of motherhood, troubled Gemma matures in Motherwell, her Scottish hometown, heavily dependent on the steel industry. Unfortunately for her, her hedonistic way of understanding the world does not fit in with the philosophy of the rest of the villagers, so trouble soon follows.
Overall Score
Good
Category Breakdown
LGBTQ+ Representation
The film explores identity through female intimacy and non-heteronormative bonds. It uses queer-coded subjectivity to challenge heteronormative expectations of friendship.
Gender Representation
The narrative disrupts hierarchies by centering entirely on female agency. It portrays women as complex, flawed actors rather than passive or purely domestic figures.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
The cast and setting appear predominantly homogeneous. The film lacks intersectional racial diversity within its primary narrative arc.
Religious & Cultural Diversity
The film critiques consumerist structures and Western capitalist norms. It frames petty crime as emotional rebellion against traditional social constraints.
Disability Representation
There are no explicit, central depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities. The film focuses instead on psychological struggles and motherhood.
Strengths
Areas for Improvement
AI Analysis
Scheme Birds is a character-driven documentary that prioritizes female subjectivity and autonomy. It successfully subverts gender tropes by depicting women engaging in anti-social behaviors, such as shoplifting, to assert agency. The film's strength lies in its critique of capitalist norms and its exploration of non-traditional interpersonal dynamics. It moves away from moralizing, instead viewing rebellion as a tool for personal expression. However, the work is limited by a lack of racial intersectionality. The setting and cast reflect a localized, homogeneous demographic that lacks broader ethnic diversity.

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