Director Annabel Jankel described “Tell It to the Bees” as “an unholy mashup of social and magical realism” that’s both “a coming-of-age story and a love story — which happens to include thousands of bees.” A trailer just dropped for the period drama, and the film indeed contains all of the elements she promised.

Set in 1952, the story sees Dr. Jean Markham (Anna Paquin) returning to the town she left as a teenager to take over her late father’s medical practice. A patient she cares for, Charlie (Gregor Selkirk), and his mother Lydia (Holliday Grainger), have been evicted recently. Jean needs a housekeeper and has more space than she needs, so she welcomes Charlie and Lydia into her own home.

Jean and Charlie bond over the bees in their backyard. “You should tell the bees your secrets. Then they don’t fly away,” she suggests.

It’s not long before Jean and Lydia become more than housemates. But their secret doesn’t stay secret. Charlie walks in on the women during an intimate moment, and he tells others what he sees.

“Tell It to the Bees” is based on Fiona Shaw’s novel of the same name.

“I found the book to be an unexpected page-turner and was intrigued by all of the characters that made up a small town in post-war Britain,” Jankel told us. “I was fascinated by the clash of class relations and gender that existed. It was a microcosm of wider society, in which homosexuality between men was a criminal offense in the United Kingdom. If it was between women, if even conceivable, the concept was considered simply reprehensible.”

Paquin toplines “Flack,” a dramedy about a self-destructive PR maven that’s airing on Pop. The “True Blood” alumna won an Oscar for her role in “The Piano.” Granger’s credits include “Cinderella,” “The Finest Hours,” and “The Borgias.”

“Tell It to the Bees” reaches theaters and VOD May 3. Henrietta and Jessica Ashworth penned the script.