Is there any greater tragedy than a parent outliving a child? There probably is but it wouldn’t have me in tears before the first credits. The title is Bully, but the subject matter is victims. We open with a narrative by parents David and Tina Long whose son Tyler committed suicide at age 17. The cause: bullying. Careful: it takes a will of stone not to be moved by their tale and we just got started.
Bully drifts through the American heartland exploring outcasts in almost deliberately random areas. Bullying happens everywhere. The documentary focuses specifically on four teens, but a Sioux City, Iowa former preemie gets the lion’s share of the attention. Alex is scrawny, awkward and just a shade slower than his peers. His mouth is perpetually agape. He looks like somebody who was born at 26-weeks. His classmates call him “Fish Lips.”
Truth is were I a contemporary, I probably would have called him “Fish Lips” too. Where’s that red-faced emoticon when you need it?
There’s a huge disconnect between Alex and everything else he encounters in life. He seems like a friendly kid, but he gets picked on. A lot. The school administrator is sympathetic, but her job is assuaging, not enforcing. The story is familiar in many places. We see the other kids pick on him. When he sheepishly admits to his parents of the treatment, they do what parents do – they overreact in the wrong way. They encourage Alex to stand up for himself. With what? Alex is not large, powerful, or a quick thinker. Asking him to hold his ground is asking him to take a beating. “Excuse me, Bully, I’d like you to punch me in the face a daily basis.” That won’t make kids respect you. His parents point out that if he never ends the cycle of abuse, his sister will get picked on when she gets to high school. I don’t believe the truth of said statement, but it’s a nice touch that Alex agrees while wearing a t-shirt reading, “WILL TRADE SISTER FOR VIDEO GAMES.”
Alex confesses, “I want to be the bully next time.” He says it matter-of-factly and without humility or any pretense of humor. Uh oh. This is how Columbine started, isn’t it? Sit up and pay attention, parents; this is no longer a topic for just bullies and victims.
As if on cue (and in a wonderful bit of editing), we meet Ja’Maya, a fourteen-year-old in juvee. She met embarrassment by brandishing her mother’s pistol on a school bus. These are things we don’t do. Ever. Her story is probably the most touching. I cried without shame upon hearing the child whimper, “I wanna go home, momma.” There’s a power to documentaries that studio pictures will never have.
And this is an important documentary. I think Bully should be required viewing for all school kids. I abhor bullying. It’s a huge problem in our society and I daresay one fostered by our sense of national identity, although the root causes are not explored here. Bullying is probably the biggest reason I don’t vote Republican even in the rare instances they’re right about something. FOX news is a compound for those life rewarded for slamming the less fortunate again and again. Almost all of us have been bullies at some point. Me included. Not exactly my proudest moments. We all should strive to do better. This movie is a good start.
Unrated, 99 Minutes
D: Lee Hirsch
W: Lee Hirsch, Cynthia Lowen
Genre: Docu-lecture
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: People who love “Glee”
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: Bullies
