Following the release of MORE THAN HONEY in UK cinemas last Friday, THN were given the opportunity to speak to director Markus Imhoof about the film, his quest to save the bees and what the future holds.
THN: Can you tell us a bit about the film please?
Markus Imhoof: It’s a kind of realistic sci-fi journey in another world which is the bee world, it seems like it is on another planet but it is real with these people that are working for us for our food. It’s a film about the relationship between man and animals which we don’t normally consider useful to us, but everyday we are eating because of these bees. For me it is showing how people work with bees in four continents around the world which is (a) very different kind of bee-keeping: there is a very traditional bee-keeper in Switzerland who looks like he is working in paradise, but then his bees are dying as well – you’ll understand why afterwards; there is a man in the USA who has 15,000 hives and they are dying because of diseases, pesticides and so we have shot in Europe, the United States, Australia and China. In China you see the bees don’t exist anymore in certain areas because of the pesticides so men have to climb the trees and pollinate the flowers with apples by hand.
For me it was very important that in the whole story you always also see the point of view of the bees themselves, and so a third of the film is in the hives following the flying bees (also) the mating of the Queen which is what I call the realistic side of this science-fiction movie.
THN: Ok, you spoke a little about the issues with bees not existing in certain places. Do you feel the mistakes are down to human ignorance or greed?
MI: The bees are dying because of pesticides, diseases, of stress, of in breeding and all of this together is based on the success of civilisation. It is a mirror of globalisation and of course it is down to human greed. We are destroying the basics of our own lives and food. If you imagine in a hamburger you would you have no salad, no tomato, no mustard, meat from a cow that has never eaten clover so it would be very sad food; also all of the plants, 80%, need help to (have) sex and they can’t make children without the helps of insects because the are planted in the ground and they can’t meet each other and kiss each other and make children, so they need someone to be the messenger of the sperm and help make children.
THN: It’s amazing how much we rely on bees and how much we will struggle in future, so do you feel this is something that can be rectified?
MI: There’s a sentence said by Einstein who said ‘when the bees are dying than four years later humankind will disappear’. Perhaps it was a little exaggerated but we will see. Maybe some rich people can eat some hand-pollinated strawberries but the average citizen would have very poor food.
THN: Is there a particular place in the world MORE THAN HONEY has had a bigger impact or are you getting the same reaction everywhere?
MI: The film is shown in 30 countries and we have now opened in the US and we are now eligible for the best doc Oscar and I hope we will be the Swiss entry which is decided September 19th.
THN: Good luck with that. How did John Hurt become involved and do you think he has helped to gain a larger audience?
MI: In the German version it is an actor saying my words, because my Grandfather was a beekeeper, my daughter and son-in-law are bee-scientists in Australia and my grandchildren are also in the film in bee suits. So it’s a very personal back story, so John Hurts makes this for an English audience easier and they don’t have to read subtitles and have the very personal approach to the story.
THN: It’s unfortunate that there is the need to take the subtitles out.
MI: If it is well done I like it, we have also done it in French and Italian so if the actor is good and you can use your eyes to see the story. You don’t waste time reading subtitles and miss the emotion.
THN: You’ve said you’re connected emotionally by your family to the story, as a result is this a fight you will continue in addition to using the film to educate people?
MI: I’m normally a fiction filmmaker I make films with actors. Most film people know is The Boat Is Full, which was nominated for an Oscar in 1982 and it was by chance I made this film, because it is such a personal story, but I didn’t know it would take me five years to do it.
THN: So, what can we expect from you next?
MI: Now I have to go to the part for the Oscar race so I will be busy until at least the end of the year. I need some time off (laughs).
THN: Well THN wish you all the best with the Oscar selection, and the film, and thank you for taking the time to talk with us. It’s been fascinating.
MI: Thank you very much.
MORE THAN HONEY is on limited release in the UK now with a US release date yet to be set
