Ulee's Gold
A solitary Florida beekeeper confronts criminal danger and family collapse when rescuing his troubled daughter-in-law becomes an act of hard-won devotion.
Overview
A father's love is tested as he risks everything to save his son's wife from danger.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- melancholic
- restrained
- tense
- quiet evening
- character drama night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an emotionally deep and unusually restrained family-in-crisis drama anchored by Peter Fonda's performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story places a damaged family and criminal danger amid the swamps and beekeeping landscape of western Florida, while maintaining a quiet, unsensational register.
Ulee risks his safety and family stability to rescue his incarcerated son's wife and protect the wider family.
Ulee's work with bees provides the film's central pastoral texture and contrasts with stolen money, addiction, family breakdown, and criminal threats.
Ulee's attempt to save Helen and reconnect with his family turns everyday protection, patience, and responsibility into the basis for recovery.
Films like Ulee's Gold, and why
The Straight Story
shared southern gothic atmosphere, family crisis, rural hardship, and restrained character drama
Affliction
shared low key American independent drama, damaged family relationships, and emotionally precise performances
Winter's Bone
shared rural gothic setting, intergenerational conflict, moral responsibility, and understated tension
Mud
shared intimate family drama, working class pressure, and quiet emotional depth
Movie Details
- Director
- Victor Nuñez
- Release Date
- 1997-06-13
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (85)
Cast
- Peter Fonda
- Patricia Richardson
- Christine Dunford
- Tom Wood
- Jessica Biel
- Vanessa Zima
- Steven Flynn
- Dewey Weber
- J. Kenneth Campbell
- Traber Burns
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Ulee's Gold about?
- A solitary Florida beekeeper confronts criminal danger and family collapse when rescuing his troubled daughter-in-law becomes an act of hard-won devotion.
- What is Ulee's Gold like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Ulee's Gold as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Ulee's Gold violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Ulee's Gold as moderate.
- What did critics think of Ulee's Gold?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an emotionally deep and unusually restrained family-in-crisis drama anchored by Peter Fonda's performance.
- Which films are like Ulee's Gold?
- Films with a similar feel include The Straight Story, Affliction, Winter's Bone, and Mud.
- How long is Ulee's Gold?
- Ulee's Gold runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch Ulee's Gold?
- In United States, Ulee's Gold streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
