Bully (2011)

A documentary on peer-to-peer bullying in schools across America.

Director:

Lee Hirsch

Writers:

Cynthia Lowen, Lee Hirsch

Stars:

Ja'Meya Jackson, Kelby Johnson, Lona Johnson

8 wins & 21 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ja'Meya Jackson	...	Self
Kelby Johnson	...	Self
Lona Johnson	...	Self
Bob Johnson	...	Self
Alex Libby	...	Self
Jackie Libby	...	Self
Philip Libby	...	Self
Maya Libby	...	Self
Jada Libby	...	Self
Ethan Libby	...	Self
Logan Libby	...	Self
Kim Lockwood	...	Self
David Long	...	Self
Tina Long	...	Self
Teryn Long	...	Self

Storyline

This year, over 13 million American kids will be bullied at school, online, on the bus, at home, through their cell phones and on the streets of their towns, making it the most common form of violence young people in this country experience. BULLY is the first feature documentary film to show how we've all been affected by bullying, whether we've been victims, perpetrators or stood silent witness. The world we inhabit as adults begins on the playground. BULLY opens on the first day of school. For the more than 13 million kids who'll be bullied this year in the United States, it's a day filled with more anxiety and foreboding than excitement. As the sun rises and school busses across the country overflow with backpacks, brass instruments and the rambunctious sounds of raging hormones, this is a ride into the unknown. For a lot of kids, the only thing that's certain is that this year, like every other, bullying will be a big part of whatever meets them at their school's front doors. ...

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Plot Keywords:

bullying | bully | bullying victim | sexual insult | physical mistreatment | 

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Taglines:

Be a Hero. Take a Stand.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense thematic material, disturbing content, and some strong language - all involving kids

Did You Know?

Trivia

Anderson Cooper is a strong advocate of this documentary and the movement against bullying that it has stimulated. It was featured on Anderson Cooper 360° (2003) in October 2011, at the "Bullying: It Stops Here" town hall program special. Kelly Ripa, Rosalind Wiseman and Phil McGraw also shared their reactions to and support of the movie.

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Goofs

The scene where Alex is walking down the street and throwing a stick is inverted. The "Mitsubishi" text on the back of the truck is flipped.

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Quotes

Alex Libby: Girls are like candy. Sometimes you want a Hershey bar and sometimes you want a Snickers. You can't really tell what you want. Sometimes you want, like, a popsicle. It is a complicated feeling.

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Connections

References Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

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Soundtracks

Torn By Wolves
Written by Ben Chasny
Performed by Six Organs Of Admittance
Courtesy of Drag city

User Reviews

boys should not "just be boys"

The issue of bullying has started to get seriously discussed in the past few years, mainly due to suicides, often due to anti-gay bullying. "Bully" looks at bullying in general. Much of it consists of interviews with the bullied students and their parents. One of the important points that the documentary makes is that there is that the reaction to bullying is often "boys will be boys". "Bully" makes the point that these things will continue until we as a society say that it's not acceptable for anyone to let this to happen to people, especially in settings where children expect to be safe. Are we ready to say "Enough is enough" and prevent bullying before it starts?

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 April 2012 (Iceland)

Also Known As:

Bully

Filming Locations:

Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,100,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$116,472, 1 April 2012

Gross USA:

$4,142,648

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,411,649

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Bully Project, Where We Live Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1