Debut: ‘The Keeper’ Would Death Stop Your Passions?

As it stands, the current state of economics in the United States favors the pursuit of money over the pursuit of passion. It is standard to see people going into careers in the pursuit of more money to sustain themselves (which isn’t a bad thing), rather than doing the thing that will truly fulfill their passions. There is no other place in the U.S. that highlights this divide better than New York City. The bustling city of Manhattan is populated with many different kinds of people who are all on different paths, and in that city lives a lady who is willing to let her passion kill her.

 Stacey Vasquez works as a beekeeper in the heart of Manhattan, but she will go into anaphylactic shock and possibly die if she is stung by a bee. The first question that comes to mind is: Why would she put her life so close to risk? Skyler Knutzen’s The Keeper provides an answer to this question and gives the audience a new outlook on what it means to pursue their passions. 

This film provides striking visual commentary of the world Stacey Vasquez works in. The first frame shows a subway train passing by, followed by sunflowers on the other side. With Manhattan being the most popular borough in New York, it tends to be busier; it is rare that you stop to take in something as simple as flowers, but the frame does that for you. It forces you to acknowledge the two different worlds that exist. Knutzen does a great job of introducing the audience to the fact that New York is more than just the hustle and bustle. Vasquez, being a native New Yorker, understands the balance of chaos that is constantly happening, which mirrors the chaos in her own life. 

The theme of chaos continues into the music and sound design. The audience is able to hear the rustling noises of the city accompanied with a piano medley that matches the upbeat tone. The contrast this creates with the simple, yet serene cinematography, continues to support the theme of balance within the city and Stacey. Knutzen also gives a nod to the hard work of the bees in comparison to people in Manhattan. In retrospect, we are all buzzing around trying to keep a colony—our lives—together, cutting between shots of the bees working to shots of people or Stacey working subtly showcases to the audience the similarity between the two. The bees are working to keep themselves alive, but in doing so they pollute and keep humans (Stacey) alive. However, Stacey is working to keep bees alive, which may end her life. This life cycle at play is heavily mentioned in the film. It serves as a reminder of the theme, chaos flows in cycles and the cycle that is upheld by Stacey and the bees creates a doomed melancholic relationship. This melancholy is also present in the cinematography; beautiful vibrate colors coupled with deep shadows. 

This story is personally to Stacey, but if one were to look deeper, it can reflect aspects of life that are not typically thought about. With The Keeper, Knutzen creates a space that highlights the beautiful yet dark nature of chaos, passion, and cycles. Stacey Vasquez is braver than most, choosing to protect something that could end her life, not because it will make her money, or make her life easier, but it is for the true pursuit of passion. I encourage anyone needing a fresh perspective of managing passion and chaos to take a look at this film and let it change you.