"The Secret Life of Bees" Preview and Trailer

I haven’t read The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, but I’ve heard great things about it. Looking forward to seeing this movie.

It’s set in South Carolina in 1964, and tells the story of Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning), a 14 year-old girl who’s haunted by the memory of her late mother.

To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father, Lily flees with Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson), her caregiver and only friend, to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother’s past. There, she’s taken in by the intelligent and independent Boatwright sisters, and finds solace in their mesmerizing world of beekeeping, honey, and the Black Madonna.

More after the jump, including a trailer…

Sounds fantastic, especially given that the cast also includes Queen Latifah, Paul Bettany, Alicia Keys, and Sophie Okonedo. Written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, this film opens in theaters Oct. 17, 2008. If you’re in New York City Sept. 10 – 14, you can catch it at the Urbanworld Film Festival. It’s rated PG-13 for thematic material and some violence.

Check out the trailer. Dakota Fanning looks so grown up, doesn’t she?

Image: The Secret Life of Bees, Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2008