The Beehive

Set in Madrid in 1942, this drama explores the daily lives of various citizens in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War. The story highlights the social divide under the Franco regime, specifically contrasting the struggle of impoverished poets with a new class of individuals who grew wealthy through illicit activities.

Directed by Mario Camus, this was the first of three films listed in his chronology, followed by After the Dream and Suburbs. The screenplay was written and produced by José Luis Dibildos. The ensemble cast features Francisco Rabal as Ricardo Sorbedo, alongside Ana Belén, Concha Velasco, Victoria Abril, Mario Pardo, and Fiorella Faltoyano, with a total of 50 credited performers.

Produced by TVE and Ágata Film, the production had a budget of 90 million USD. Audience reception is generally positive, with a rating of 7.1 on IMDb based on 1,300 votes and a score of 6.4 on TMDB from 52 votes.