Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo (Jessica Oreck, 2009): USA/Japan

Reviewed by Lava Farmer. Viewed at the Mann’s Chinese Theater as part of the 2009 AFI Film Festival.

A gorgeous in depth look into a tiny world. Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo gives us a look at insect culture in Japan.  Jessica Oreck teaches us how bugs and people have a very special relationship in Japan.  People have a respect and appreciation for insects because of their close relationship with nature.  Their love of insects of insects is so great they even have stores where you can buy them as pets.  Oreck takes us on a journey through nature and the insect’s natural habitat, as well as their home in Japanese popular culture.

Throughout the film cinematographer, Sean Williams, juxtaposes the beauty of nature with the hustle and bustle of the towns and cities.  We are constantly being bombarded with parallel imaging, like a shot of a man whose hair greatly resembles that of a horned beetle.  We are also being continually flashed light.  Perhaps this attraction to neon lights and bright city streets is supposed to reflect the attraction our insect counterparts have to light.

Whether we are looking at swarms of busy people, or swarms of crawling insects, the images presented are powerful and strong.  The use of music and editing creates an exciting mood that makes you feel as busy as a bee and as bouncy as a cricket!  If you like bugs you’ll love this ode to the insect.  It really makes you appreciate the little things in life.