20,000 Species of Bees

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2:05

20,000 Species of Bees

2024

2h 8m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

43 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

In a small, sleepy village in the Basque Country, a sculptor named Ane and her three children arrive at her mother Lita's home for summer vacation where they are surrounded by extended family and nosy neighbors. Ane and her mother's relationship is strained -- Lita disapproves of her daughter's frayed marriage, career as an artist, and the way she parents her obstinate and mischievous children. Chief among them is eight-year-old Aitor, nicknamed Coco after it becomes clear that being referred to by the Aitor elicits feelings of distress in the child. Born biologically male, neither birth name nor the genderless nickname feel quite right, and Ane's concern for her child grows as Coco becomes more withdrawn. The child's only respite lies in the Basque hills, where Ane's aunt Lourdes tends to the family's beekeeping farm. Among the peaceful humming of bees and Lourdes' open-minded guardianship, Coco slowly begins to confide in family and friends her discomfort in her body, eventually voicing a desire to be treated as a girl. As Coco explores her own developing identity over the summer, Ane and the rest of her family in turn must learn to accept the child as she is.

Critics Consensus

Led by young Sofía Otero's outstanding performance, 20,000 Species of Bees explores an array of weighty themes with gentle humanity.

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Mark Kermode

Sight & Sound

06/21/2024

Warmly humanist and deeply empathetic first feature… announcing the arrival of a bold new filmmaking voice.

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Diego Semerene

Slant Magazine

06/10/2024

2.5/4

The film blooms in moments where, instead of literally addressing Coco's gender trouble, we’re simply allowed to inhabit it.

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Leigh Monson

AV Club

06/10/2024

B

Despite its limitations, 20,000 Species of Bees is crafted from a place of empathy so often lacking in conversations about trans childhood.

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Kathy Fennessy

Video Librarian Magazine

04/14/2025

4/5

All told, 20,000 Species of Bees has been the recipient of over three dozen awards, including three Goyas, the Spanish equivalent of the Oscars, a testament to the sensitivity and skill Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren brought to this touching narrative.

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Lyra Hale

Fangirlish

07/22/2024

A

20000 Species of Bees [...] was a delicate reminder of those who do accept us and open the door. Even if just a crack. Those people are there and they change lives.

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Andrew Parker

The Gate

07/12/2024

8/10

[A] willingness to look at delicate matters in totality, combined with a spectacular cast of performers all given highly detailed characters to work with, makes 20,000 Species of Bees an exceptional family drama.

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Giorgio P

@RT40085009 08/09/2024

Great movie! Loved the story and the message! You can feel the feelings actors are able to transmite. Coco mom's and Coco are absolutely great actresses.

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Saurabh S

@RT72957893 07/14/2024

One of the best movies I saw in last year. Kudos to the whole team for making such a brilliant film.

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Cezary K

@RT05341587 01/05/2024

What kinds of humans are there? Who is my beekeeper? There are movies which yell out the questions. 20,000 Species of Bees does it with beauty, gentleness additionally making you cry.

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Estíbaliz Urresola Solaguren

Director

Sofía Otero

Lucía

Patricia López Arnaiz

Ane

Ane Gabarain

Lourdes

Itziar Lazkano

Lita

Sara Cozar

Leire

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95%

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The Girl With the Needle

92%

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20,000 Species of Bees: Trailer 1

2:05

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Synopsis

In a small, sleepy village in the Basque Country, a sculptor named Ane and her three children arrive at her mother Lita's home for summer vacation where they are surrounded by extended family and nosy neighbors. Ane and her mother's relationship is strained -- Lita disapproves of her daughter's frayed marriage, career as an artist, and the way she parents her obstinate and mischievous children. Chief among them is eight-year-old Aitor, nicknamed Coco after it becomes clear that being referred to by the Aitor elicits feelings of distress in the child. Born biologically male, neither birth name nor the genderless nickname feel quite right, and Ane's concern for her child grows as Coco becomes more withdrawn. The child's only respite lies in the Basque hills, where Ane's aunt Lourdes tends to the family's beekeeping farm. Among the peaceful humming of bees and Lourdes' open-minded guardianship, Coco slowly begins to confide in family and friends her discomfort in her body, eventually voicing a desire to be treated as a girl. As Coco explores her own developing identity over the summer, Ane and the rest of her family in turn must learn to accept the child as she is.

Director: Estíbaliz Urresola Solaguren
Producer: Valérie Delpierre, Lara Izagirre
Screenwriter: Estíbaliz Urresola Solaguren, Estíbaliz Urresola Solaguren
Distributor: Film Movement
Production Co: Inicia Films, Euskal Irrati Telebista (EiTB), Gariza Films, Movistar+
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Spanish
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 14, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 20, 2024
Runtime: 2h 8m