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20,000 Species of Bees

Play trailer 2:05 Poster for 20,000 Species of Bees 2024 2h 8m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
93% Tomatometer 42 Reviews 76% 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birth name nor the genderless nickname feel quite right, and Ane's concern for her child grows as Coco becomes more withdrawn.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.
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20,000 Species of Bees

20,000 Species of Bees

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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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Critics Reviews

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Mark Kermode Sight & Sound Jun 21, 2024
Warmly humanist and deeply empathetic first feature… announcing the arrival of a bold new filmmaking voice. Go to Full Review Diego Semerene Slant Magazine Jun 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. Go to Full Review Leigh Monson AV Club Jun 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. Go to Full Review Kathy Fennessy Video Librarian Magazine Apr 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. Go to Full Review Lyra Hale Fangirlish Jul 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. Go to Full Review Andrew Parker The Gate Jul 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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Petros T @PetrosTserpelis Aug 24, 2026 Even though it's perhaps a tad too slow and doesn't eschew certain - effective - clichés, "20.000 especies de abejas" is a meticulously crafted character piece that displays a remarkable eye for small, realistic moments and the patience to orchestrate them in a consistent, captivating, insightful whole. Sofía Otero is fantastic in the lead and elevates the film even more, Patricia López Arnaiz also gives a very strong performance, and the entire cast is very well chosen. Touching and engrossing. See more Cezary K @RT05341587 Jan 5, 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. See more Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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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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20,000 Species of Bees

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20,000 Species of Bees

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Movie Info

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
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