More than Honey

The politics of bee-keeping isn't exactly well-trodden ground for film-makers, but Swiss director Markus Imhoof explores similar territory to 2009's Vanishing of the Bees in this tenacious investigation into the causes of this vital insect's ever-diminishing population. Imhoof, who has only made six features to date, actually picked up an Oscar nomination more than three decades ago for his Second World War drama The Boat is Full. He works hard to keep this potentially downbeat subject brimming with life, travelling across four continents and always keeping an eye out for interesting characters and perspectives along the way. The movie comes complete with some eye-popping visuals, captured using microphotography that allows us to get staggeringly up-close and personal with the sophisticated bee world and helps to reveal its secrets. In all, More than Honey makes for surprisingly stimulating fare.