Bully

In the recently released film Bully, filmmaker Lee Hirsch reminds us just how much cruelty young people are capable of displaying toward one another. The documentary records the grief and the determination of the parents of Ty, a boy who committed suicide at the age of 11, as they fight to change the system that served their son so poorly. It follows Alex, who faces daily torment on the school bus. And it tells the story of Kelby, a one-time star athlete in Tuttle, Oklahoma, who comes out as a lesbian – only to be kicked out of the school sports team amid an outpouring of hate.

Thirteen million children are bullied every year, says Hirsch. According to the American Psychological Association, approximately “40% to 80% of school-age children experience bullying at some point during their school careers.” Suicides like Jacob’s take place somewhere in America every single month. According to a Yale University study, children who are bullied are two to nine times more likely to end their own lives. Kids are bullied for all sorts of reasons: for being fat, shy, poor, rich and for no reason at all, although everyone familiar with the phenomenon knows that sexual orientation is a common excuse.-Foolishly Romantic

Of course, this documentary may not be the film to stop all bullying, yet it gives an insight at the first day of school for some of the many who are bullied. The film is not rated.

Back in 2001, there was another film by the same name. This Bully film was based on a true story, where some naive teenagers plot to kill the bully who has tormented them. Brad Renfro starred in the film and he didn't play the bully. Nick Stahl played the bully. This was one of Michael Pitts earlier films, as well.

This had to be one of Brad's best films. There is something about Renfro's demeanor that would make it easy for him to be the "bully". So it was even more extra-ordinary that he played the part of the victim, instead.

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