Bullying has been around for as long as anyone can remember, and it’s gotten progressively worse in recent years. Teen (and even pre-teen) suicide due to constant bullying has become a major concern, and yet there’s no easy fix to figuring out how to get it to stop, or at least get it under control. While it doesn’t claim to have all the answers, Lee Hirsch’s documentary, Bully, does tackle the subject head-on, and it does so in a way that can be used as a tool to at least bring the topic to light in classrooms across North America.
The film focuses on the stories of a few children who have suffered, or are suffering from bullying in some fashion. Right from the start we’re introduced to a young boy named Tyler through home videos of him playing with his father, laughing and smiling, and full of life. The story then takes a turn, as Tyler hits adolescence and becomes a bit more reclusive and prone to bullying. Tyler’s father talks about how his son was picked on, and how his peers called him worthless and told him he should go hang himself, and after Tyler hit his eventual breaking point, that’s exactly what he did.
There are varying opinions when it comes to bullying, and how it can be handled, or who should be blamed. Should it be the parents who try and tear information from their children every day when they come home to see if everything is okay? Should it be the parents of the bullies who sit down and talk with their kids to make sure they understand the repercussions of their actions, and how wrong it is? Should it be the fault of the school that doesn’t take enough action when bullying is brought to light?
All of these options are looked at throughout the stories being told, though when it all comes down to it, the answer is never really cut and dry. Take the case of Alex, an eleven-year-old boy who is constantly bullied on the bus he rides to school every day, as well as in the schoolyard. He laughs along with the bullies as though it doesn’t bother him; however, he only does this because he wants to believe these people are just playing around and are really his friends. When his parents say that it’s not right, he responds with, “Well if they’re not my friends, what friends do I have?”
This is one of the only times Alex opens up to his parents, and it takes circumstances out of his control in order for the topic to be brought to light. Early on in the film, any time his parents ask him about what’s going on, he either shuts down, or acts as though nothing out of the ordinary has taken place – then again, to him, bullying is normal by this point in his life, so he’s not entirely lying.
Assistant Principal Kim Lockwood is showcased as the ignorant voice of schools everywhere, having zero answers of how to handle cases of bullying and in most cases turning their back to it, or handling it in the most minimal ways possible. In one instance, a boy has been picked on and he and the bully are brought to her so she can listen to what happened and hand out the proper punishment. Yet, instead of any sort of punishment, she tells them to shake hands.
The bully extends his hand, but the boy being picked on is reluctant to shake it. The assistant principal then urges the boy to shake his tormentors hand, and all but bullies him herself in order to get him to do it. After they shake, she excuses the bully, and then proceeds to tell the boy who was picked on that he’s just as bad as the bully for not shaking his hand. It’s absolutely ridiculous, and even though blame can’t solely fall on schools for bullying as a whole, it’s clear that this isn’t an isolated way to handle this sort of thing, and that has got to change.
There’s another story about a homosexual teenager named Kelby, whose entire family was been denounced by the town they live in after she came out of the closet. She’s a strong young woman, and she wishes to make a change by not moving to another city and “letting them win.” Another story focuses on a couple who starts an online Facebook page for parents who have lost a child due to bullying after their eleven-year-old son took his life because of constant torment at school.
Hirsch delivers an incredibly powerful documentary, and along with his co-writer Cynthia Lowen the pair brings to light some very important information and insights into things that everybody should be aware of. The documentary is very well structured, though it’s also very hard to watch without feeling absolutely crushed by some of the stories being told.
Bully an absolutely integral film for the times, and it should be required viewing in all schools, and something parents should seek out to watch with their kids as well. This film isn’t going to solve the problem we’re facing as a society with bullying today; however, it brings to light many things that can’t be ignored, and is a voice for those who may be too afraid to speak up themselves for fear of even more unwarranted persecution.
The video and audio transfer of Bully is very well done. There are lots of changes from indoors to outdoors, and yet there’s never a poorly lit scene, or over or underexposed moment. The audio comes through nicely as well, giving an intimate look into some of the experiences this kids go through on a day to day basis.
Deleted Scenes – There are six deleted scenes, most of which wouldn’t exactly fit into the film, or don’t work with the narrative the story was going with. There’s a 3.5-minute clip called “Caine’s Story” about an eleven year-old boy who is picked on and escapes through gaming. He does stand up and speaks to a council about bullying, though I would have to guess there just wasn’t enough to his story to add it to the film itself.
The Bully Project At Work – This is a featurette that runs at just over seven minutes in length and tells the story about how a middle school in California got involved in “The Bully Project”. It tells about how they took all 900 of their students, their teachers, as well as the bus drivers to see the movie Bully, their reactions to it, and what came about after the screening at the school.
Alex After Bully – This is a four-minute update piece on Alex and how his life has changed after the release of the film. He’s now a freshman at high school that is enjoying popularity thanks to the movie allowing people to see him for who he is.
Alex’s Character Sketch – This is a quick introduction piece to Alex’s story that’s more or less an advertisement for the film at just under two minutes in length.
Alex Raps – This featurette sees Alex rapping with singer Sean Kingston at the NO BULL Teen Video Awards. It’s two and a half minutes in length and is a fun little video that’s worth checking out for a smile.
Kelby’s Original Sketch – This is another ad type piece for the film that’s like the Alex one above, though this one is for Kelby.
Meryl Streep on Bullying – Here’s a two minute featurette that has Meryl Streep talking at a conference about the effect Bully had on her and her friends who watched it, and tells a story about how she was bullied as a kid as well, and how things need to change.
Communities in Motion – This is a five minute featurette that throws out some stats about bullying, and the tools a community can use to get parents, teachers and such educated so that they can work towards preventing bullying as best they can.
Sioux City After Bully – This is a six and a half minute featurette that focuses on Sioux City (the school that allowed the filmmaker’s into their halls so that things could be filmed that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible) after the film was released, and how things have changed to start working towards the better.
Good Morning America – Here’s an eight-minute featurette from when Bully was highlighted on Good Morning America.
Kevin Jennings, An Advocate’s Perspective – This is a featurette that’s just over two minutes in length where Jennings talks about bullying, and how parents and teachers need to be aware of even the smallest hint that a child is being bullied and their rights to deal with it.
We Are Daniel Cui – Here’s a 3.5-minute featurette that’s an inspirational story about a young man named Daniel Cui who’s a goaltender for his school’s varsity soccer team. He gained an unfair reputation as “The Worst Goaltender Ever” after pictures were posted on Facebook by bullies highlighting him missing saves, and laying on the ground after a shot. This caused Cui to not want to go back to school; however, his schoolmates and teammates all had a different opinion of him, and with their help and support, Cui became more popular than ever.
Bully: The Book – This is a freeze frame ad that tells you a little about the book Bully, which helps with bullying prevention.
The Weinstein Company presents Bully. Directed by: Lee Hirsch. Written by: Lee Hirsch and Cynthia Lowen. Running time: 98 minutes. Rating: PG. Released: February 12, 2013. Available at Amazon.com.
