Bully In a Theater Near You
With the recent release of Bully in select theaters, moviegoers of all ages are hearing, seeing, and feeling the effects of what more than 13 million American kids suffer each year. The character-driven documentary, directed by Lee Hirsch, shines an unflinching light on the tortured lives of five bullied children and their families as they went through the 2009-2010 school year. As described by the movie’s promoters:
Following five kids and families over the course of a school year, the film confronts bullying’s most tragic outcomes, including the stories of two families who’ve lost children to suicide and a mother who waits to learn the fate of her 14-year-old daughter, incarcerated after bringing a gun on her school bus. With rare access to the Sioux City Community School District, the film also gives an intimate glimpse into school buses, classrooms, cafeterias, and even principals’ offices, offering insight into the often-cruel world of children, as teachers, administrators, and parents struggle to find answers.
While the stories examine the dire consequences of bullying, they also give testimony to the courage and strength of the victims of bullying and seek to inspire real changes in the way we deal with bullying as parents, teachers, children, and in society as a whole. Through the power of these stories, BULLY aims to be a catalyst for change and to turn the tide on an epidemic of violence that has touched every community in the United States—and far beyond.
Through these powerful stories, Hirsch hopes Bully will change the way we as individuals and as a society deal with bullying. With that in mind, the movie’s website offers a downloadable tool, Guide to the Film Bully: Fostering Empathy and Action in Schools, designed to help audiences deal with the stories they see and explore what they mean in their schools and communities.
The movie is part of The Bully Project, a larger social action campaign that is aiming to address the bullying crisis by changing schools and communities. Check The Bully Project Website to learn how you can get involved. Options range from heeding the movie’s call to action: “Stop Bullying. Speak Up!” to sharing personal stories and supporting nonprofit partners of The Bully Project.
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