Lee Hirsch's Bully.
Finally it has opened nationwide and with that PG-13 rating. There has been plenty of coverage of the effort to bring the rating down from an "R" which is truly a gift, as it shone a spotlight on this vital film.
I saw it a few months ago...
...and the most succinct, yet honest thing I could say is: Bully Is The Most Impactful Documentary Film I have ever seen. Ever.
I knew it would be an emotional viewing just from the subject matter, but it was so much more. That day (LA film festival) I was rushing up from Laguna Beach and had not eaten. So, I grabbed what was available, popcorn & a drink and made it in time for the start.
Then almost immediately, I put it down. It was just not possible to snack, the opening scene had already drawn me in to such a connective point emotionally that all there was to do was to drop in, open up and allow this film to unfold.
I will not give away any details, but simply say that for me the masterful story-telling created such an engagement that I was physically and emotionally still feeling the effect 2 weeks later. The magic is in the absolute truth of what is unfolding, reveled in a frank way without the flashy cut scenes, graphics, stats or preaching.
It was impossible to be anything but personally and emotionally engaged, to relate to the characters and while being drawn deeply into the stories also being aware of how I was triggered, what was familiar and to be shone a mirror...a mirror which simply is as a question. Therein is the lasting impact, for a finger pointing piece that preaches could never be as potent and vital as this film which simply draws the viewer in to the absolute truth of what is revealed before their eyes without providing the exit door that stats and conclusions otherwise would.
We are left to examine our own relationship and role in the bullying phenomena.
At a point, I became aware of time and how deeply involved in the stories I was. Although the subject matter was deep it was held in such a way that I was not becoming over-full. Challenged as I was, I did not want it to end. I also became concerned with how it all would wrap, how to do justice to the authenticity of the film while providing some hope.
What began to unfold in the end scenes was masterful as the rest and I was truly floored with the artful way in which the authenticity of what is could be balanced with an equally authentic 'What could be.'
So go see it.
See it this weekend. Tonight. Tomorrow. Give this film the debut it deserves and yourself the glimpse into some deep truths of our human experience that you deserve.
Disclosure: Lee Hirsch is a dear friend and you may remember him from his direction of the Local Voices for Obama campaign that my group Truthandhope.org had the honor of helping make possible. One of his ads was chosen as Best Presidential TV Ad of 2008 so he has been a friend of ours for a long time, using his gifts of authentic story telling to make our world a better place then and now.
Please support Lee as he has supported us. And share it!
Join the Movement. This film truly will make the world a better place.
Thank you for all that you do.
Eugene Hedlund
Founder
TruthandHope.Org PAC