BULLY (2011) – The Review

BULLY is a new documentary that’s been getting a lot of buzz lately, not because of its topical subject, but because of a battle with the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) over the rating the film was assigned. Due to an arbitrary ruling over language content (too many F-bombs) the doc was rated R, restricted. The film’s supporters led by distributor Harvey Weinstein believed that this would prevent many teenagers from seeing the film (and, hopefully, learning from it). But the MPAA would not budge, so Weinstein explored the possibility of releasing BULLY unrated. Unfortunately many theatre owners will not book an unrated film and many outlets will not carry advertising for such a film. Finally, after a few cuts and lots of celebrity pressure, the rating has dropped to PG-13. Now that it’s finally in theatres we can get pass the big dust-up and see the film on its own merits.

BULLY focuses in on five different families and the impact that school bullying has had on them. We meet two couples whose sons took their lives to escape the misery of the constant torments at their school. The pain of their loss echoes through every word they speak to the camera. A high school girl from Oklahoma tells of being ostracized when she came out as a lesbian. She relates stories of taunts not only from class mates, but from faculty members. Her religious parents talk about changing their attitudes and being astonished at the level of intolerance in the community. Another mother tells of her sweet, athletic, honor student daughter who was pushed to the brink by constant bullying until she made an ill-fated plan to strike back and was soon plunged into the nightmare of an unsympathetic legal system. Perhaps the most heart-wrenching story may be the portrait of middle school student Alex (he might have the most screen time). We first see him doing his chores and happily playing with his siblings. His home is his haven, a sanctuary from the unending harassment at school. Born prematurely (at 24 weeks), he has unique features and is a bit more awkward than his class mates, who refer to him as “fish-face.” Waiting for the bus, he’s threatened and pushed. On board he’s poked, prodded, strangled, and smacked. Back home he refuses to talk to his folks about his hellish school day. He literally shuts down. What can his parents do to stop the bullying and save this kind-hearted boy’s life?

This is no frills, fly on the wall documentary film making at its most involving. Director Lee Hirsch makes no use of a narrator. There’s no artsy confessional backdrops, no re-enactments, no snazzy graphics or animations. We don’t hear the interviewer. The principals speak to the camera with an occasional setting or personal identification. Some of the footage is astounding in its intimacy particularly the shots in Alex’s hellish bus ride. Also amazing is the scenes of the ineffectual authorities and school administration. The footage of one member of the school principal’s staff roaming the halls and meeting with Alex’s parents may have you gritting your teeth in anger while rolling your eyes in disbelief (my screening audience was almost heckling her). She can’t accept that some of her “little cherubs” are capable of cruelty. We can understand the frustration of the featured parents in trying to work with these naive’ staffers. This is powerful stuff.

Unfortunately Hirsch doesn’t delve into why some kids choose to victimize others. Is it part of their home life? Is it their way to feel superior? Also, the new technologies are only mentioned in passing. Cyber-bullying with texts and social media have been much in the news recently. Now the bullies can destroy someone while remaining anonymous. Maybe these topics can be discussed in a follow-up film. I’d be interested to see what happens to the kids in four or five years. The movie’s well done, but may be very difficult for parents to view. I hope they and their kids get a chance to see this (bravo to the MPAA for their change of heart and rating). But BULLY’s not all gloom and heartache. Like AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Things can change. The grieving parents channel their pain into a movement to convince those in charge of the school not to dismiss these incidents with “Oh well, kids will be kids,” and try to inspire other to speak up and get involved. I’m sure this well intentioned work will help spread their message.  Till we see you again, hang in there Alex!

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars