Burt’s Buzz
EVERYDAY PICTURES/FILMBUFF
Jody Shapiro’s documentary profiles Burt Shavitz, the thick-bearded, staunchly frugal, middle-aged Maine beekeeper who cofounded Burt’s Bees, following his rise from hip 1960s photographer to the unlikely brand ambassador for a multimillion-dollar skin and body care empire. As a portrait of the compelling curmudgeon, Burt’s Buzz isn’t quite as penetrating as one might hope for. But it’s an oddly charming peek into the world of corporate celebrity through the lens of a guy who apparently wants nothing to do with it. “No one has ever accused me of being ambitious,” Shavitz says. And, of his intrusive fans: “I’d like to point the shotgun at them and tell them to be good or be gone.”
