Bully

Lee Hirsch's controversial documentary about our national bullying epidemic took on the MPAA rating system and won (after cutting a few four-letter words), meaning that the message can reach its target audience with crucial scenes left intact. Beginning with the alarming statistic that more than 13 million American kids would be bullied in 2012, Bully personalizes this pervasive universal problem that crosses racial, ethnic, sexual, and socioeconomic boundaries. Utilizing a case-study format, Hirsch focuses on five victims. We meet 12-year-old Alex from Sioux City, whose suffering begins before he boards the school bus and escalates, even as he assures his parents that his predatory tormentors are only “messing with him.” Kelby is a 16-year-old athlete who has been shunned since she came out as a lesbian in Tuttle, OK. Pushed to the breaking point, 14-year-old Ja'Meya carried a loaded handgun in Yazoo County, MS; now incarcerated, she's charged with multiple felony counts. Tragically, 17-year-old Tyler Long of Murray County, GA, hanged himself after years of harassment, and—according to his bereaved parents—indifference by school officials (part of the problem lies with unresponsive adults, who often dismiss bullying as “kids will be kids”). And following the suicide of their 11-year-old son, Ty, in Perkins, OK, Kirk and Laura Smalley organized Stand for the Silent vigils. Hirsch allows these poignant stories to speak for themselves (absent instructive commentary or sound bite editing). Likely to spur dialogue, this is recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include an edited version of the film (for language), deleted scenes (13 min.), a Good Morning America interview with director Lee Hirsch (8 min.), and the behind-the-scenes featurettes "The Bully Project at Work" (7 min.), "Sioux City After Bully" (7 min.), "Alex After Bully" (5 min.), "Communities in Motion" (5 min.), and "We Are Daniel Cui" (3 min.). Also included are "Alex's Character Sketch" (2 min.), "Kevin Jennings: An Advocate's Perspective" PSA (3 min.), "Alex Raps" with Alex and singer Sean Kingston (2 min.), "Kelby's Original Sketch" (2 min.), "Meryl Streep on Bullying" (2 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a bonus DVD copy of the film. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a powerful documentary.] (S. Granger)