I’ve been laid up with the creeping crud for the last couple of days. There is only so much television I can watch with the dearth of good programming out there. So, I’ve watched a few movies. Last night I watched Akeelah and the Bee. It’s been out a couple of years, and I’ve meant to watch it for a long time. Even though I have a deep love for words I thought a movie about spelling bees might be kind of, well, boring.
I was wrong.
It’s the story of a girl in South L.A. who loves words. Playing Scrabble and learning to spell words is a passion of hers passed down from her late father. Spelling is her comfort because it makes her feel as if her father is still near. Her mother, played by Angela Bassett, has her hands full trying to raise several children by herself and seldom has time for Akeelah. While Akeelah is a good speller she struggles in school. You find out later that her academic struggles are not because she’s not intelligent, but because her mind is not being stimulated enough in her struggling inner city school.
One day while watching T.V. she see’s the Scripp’s National Spelling Bee on ESPN, and she’s mesmerized. Not long after that her school holds it’s first ever spelling bee and her adventure begins. Akeelah’s struggles in the succession of spelling bees are not due to a lack of spelling ability but because of her struggles with self-confidence and doing something that was out of the norm for her culture and family.
Along comes a retired English professor played by Lawrence Fishburne who reluctantly becomes her spelling coach. You soon find that he struggles with grief and lack of confidence much like Akeelah.
So, if you want a sweet, feel-good movie check out Akeelah and the Bee. It’s playing on Lifetime Movie Network this month.
