thebullyprojectPopcorn, ticket stub, ICEE…and tissues? You don’t need anything except for tissues when seeing the film, The Bully Project. This documentary was directed by Emmy-award winning filmmaker, Lee Hirsch, and is a part of the Cinequest 22 Film Festival. This documentary showcases the daily lives of five students in different parts of the United States who have been bullied in school. Camera crews followed these victims of bullying, as well as their families, friends, and community. There were many intimate moments shown of the day to day lives these students faced from their time spent at school, and in their homes.

We are often lead to believe that what we see in movies doesn’t really happen in actuality, but when it comes to bullying, this isn’t the case. ­This documentary shows the raw footage of how out of hand bullying can get. From verbal threats on the school bus, to pushing and shoving in the hallways, The Bully Project reveals the severity of bullying. I have a feeling this film will become very popular because of how real it is.

What surprised me most was not how bad bullying is becoming in schools, but how teachers and school officials are handling the situation. Instead of just saying, “Kids will be kids” and, “They tease each other all the time,” school boards should focus on teaching the students to be aware of what bullying is and why it is wrong. We all know that when bullying gets to its worst, kids can unfortunately reach their breaking point where they decide to take their own lives. Personally, the most gut-wrenching part of this documentary was when a young boy attended his best friend’s funeral. He bawled at the open-casket, and then proceeded to help carry the casket out to the burial site. Tears streamed down my face, and I saw how bullying truly affected not just the victim of bullying, but their loved ones as well. The Bully Project truly captured the heart and soul of what it means to be bullied. This movie is a must-see, and has the potential to change lives.

 The Bully Project – 3/6/12 at 4:45 PM, San Jose Repertory Theatre

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