Documentary+Review

Documentary Review: The Bully Project

The documentary I have chosen to review is on a topic that everyone can relate to. It is a world wide problem that has evolved into ne wer a nd in some instance s m ore harmful forms. The title of this documentary is The Bully Project and it addresses bullying in American schools.

The Bully Project was directed by Lee Hirsch and produced by Cynthia Lowen. The film shows family's who's lives have been changed by bullying, the school environment where bullying actually takes place, and some of the children who have actually been bullied. The film takes place in modern day American schools were bullying hits hard. A small number of children who have to face bullying everyday are interviewed to illustrate to the viewer what these kids have to go to on a daily basis.

As a high school student perhaps I have a better chance of actually witnessing bully occur in the habitat I spend most of my time in. Perhaps I have a better chance of actually being in a situation that bullying is occurring. Perhaps I will more likely be in a situation that not necessarily I am doing it on purpose but am actually the person doing the bullying. But that shouldn't mean those who aren't in an hostile environment like this shouldn't pay attention to this problem. A child in the documentary says something that leaves a haunting feeling in me and really makes me think about what he said. He states when at a meeting for anti-bullying, "It's a shame we have to do this for anybody to notice it." Does that not make you think about bullying, how it sometimes lays low under the radar, how me might not notice it even thought it is happening all around us. What is the point of a documentary? To inform the viewer on the topic the documentary is on right?. In my opinion the more affected and informed the viewer is after watching the documentary the more powerful it actually is. The director captures the interest of the viewer by reaching them on an emotional level so that the viewer starts making connections to his or her everyday life. The stories the kids tell in this documentary about their bullying experiences is truly powerful. It makes you feel great compassion towards these kids who have to go through so much everyday. The documentary differs from autistic kids who are actually convinced they don't believe they belong with other kids, to the families of children who have been bullied so horrifically that they result in taking their own lives. The way the filmmakers capture the children at school alone is disturbing. But there is hope, which is portrayed in a joyous way near the end of this film that these kids can find friends and that differences can be made. And most importantly overall, that bullying is a problem that we can solve, it is just going to take effort from everyone. Isn't that a powerful message? Isn't the overall goal of this documentary reached with such a perfection that it could reach out and touch anyone who sat down and watched it. That's why I choice this documentary to review because it's overall message is one that often is pushed aside for other issues but really shouldn't be. In the technical age we live in today new forms of bullying are being born from text messages to internet sites but no matter what form they are in, it is still bullying. It is still setting out to harm another human being, physically or emotionally. A problem that can get so malicious, so horrific, so hateful that a child actually takes his or her own life, needs to be dealt with on a global scale. Overall this documentary is powerful and touching and without doubt achieves exactly what it was made for and so much more.

WEll done Tom. I especially like how you relate the topic to your life.

24/24

Check out The Bully Project Promo below.

media type="youtube" key="PBymTVjBYHg" width="425" height="350" You can join the group The Bully Project on [|The Bully Project. Facebook Page.] You Can also go to The Bully Project home page here [|The Bully Project Home Page.]

Reviewed By Tom Norman