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Movie Review Monday: Bully

bullyHello out there! Here's another recommendation that is available on Netflix. I watched this a little while ago but definitely feel as though it deserves all the attention it can get. So this movie is a special one for me; a heartfelt documentary that had me hooked into the future of these kids featured in the film, especially young Alex from Iowa. He has an Autism-Spectrum Disorder (the exact diagnosis escaping me) and is ridiculed daily at school and on the bus, but makes excuses for his tormentors. In Alex and many of the other children showcased in the film, I saw a bit of myself. They were teased simply for being a little different, a little eccentric, and of course a tad nerdy. It's the classic jocks versus nerds tropes we should be beyond by now but the residue is still there in our schools. If you're different than the majority, you're weird and ostracized. Simple as that.

I encourage everyone to seek this film out. It gets you connected to the heart of the issue, the impact on the victims of bullying, and why it still persists. Most importantly though, it makes you want to work to create safe, inclusive communities where the people who resort to bullying, who may have their own issues, get the help they need as well as those who are affected by bullying. It's heart wrenching, gripping, depressing, inspiring, and relevant, all mixed up in a blender.

Support this movie by checking it out and spreading the word. Thank you!