Green Sanctuary to show bee documentary 'Queen of the Sun' Friday

The Green Sanctuary film series will screen "Queen of the Sun: What are the Bees Telling Us" at 7 p.m. Friday, March 24, at the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry.

The 2010 documentary is a profound, alternative look at the global bee crisis from Taggart Siegel, director of the acclaimed documentary "The Real Dirt on Farmer John." It takes a journey through the catastrophic disappearance of bees and the mysterious world of the beehive and weaves the engaging and ultimately uplifting and dramatic story of the heartfelt struggles of beekeepers, scientists and philosophers from around the world including Michael Pollan, Gunther Hauk and Vandana Shiva to save the endangered pollinators. It reveals both the problems and the solutions in renewing a culture in balance with nature.

The winner of a dozen film festival awards, the film was greeted by ecstatic reviews. "A remarkable documentary that's also one of the most beautiful nature films I've seen," wrote the late Roger Ebert. "Revelatory … Siegel buzzes around the globe and deep into the hive … Honey has never looked so delicious. Or so precious," added Jeannette Catsoulis in The New York Times.

After the screening, Harvard beekeeper Doug Hawthorne and Bill Warzecha owner of Natives Haven wildflower nursery will help facilitate an open discussion.

The Green Sanctuary Committee represents the environmental ministry of Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation and combines education, stewardship, and activism. Its name comes from the Green Sanctuary certification the Congregation has earned for its commitment to environmental justice from the Unitarian Universalist Association.

The evening is free and open to the public.

For further information, contact Andy Myers at andrea-g-myers@hotmail.com or Marcia Johnson at marcia.johnson1966@gmail.com.