'Bully' Documentary Now in Theaters

A new documentary that examines the national epidemic of bullying — through the eyes of school children and parents — released in theaters in Connecticut on Friday.

“Bully,” a PG-13 non-fiction work that runs just over an hour-and-a-half, profiles a number of teenagers who are pushed around and harassed by others.

It also includes interviews with parents of two children who committed suicide after being fed up with being bullied, the movie’s website explains. But it also talks about the efforts those parents are making to spread awareness to others about the problem.

According to the trailer, the documentary catches on camera uncomfortable moments of bullying, in real time.

One of the victims in is Alex, a 12-year-old middle school kid from Sioux City, Iowa. During the trailer, Alex is seen pushed and punched by others while on the school bus. (See the attached YouTube video for the full trailer).

But, as noted on the documentary's website, "Bully" also seeks to offer potential solutions and to bring discussion on how to approach it.

"The Bully Project will catalyze audience awareness to action with a series of tools and programs supported by regional and national partners," the website states.

To see "Bully," the closes theaters are the following:

• Criterion Cinemas, 86 Temple St., New Haven, 7:15 p.m. and 9 p.m.
• AMC Loews 20, 220 New Britain Ave., Plainville, 7:30 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.

Check moviefone.com for more show times.

Bullying Close to Home

Alex maybe from Iowa, but his sentiments on being bullied are likely shared by many school children across the country, including right here in Naugatuck.

At least one borough student approached the Board of Education during a meeting in February with her mother, claiming she was bullied by fellow sixth-grade classmates.

At the same time another student, sophomore Justin Rinaldi, created a brief, but very poignant film about bullying and the damages it does.

The film is a fiction acted out by participating students, but it uses short vignettes that show a few students being mistreated during their regular school day.

See the clip at the Naugatuck High School Greyhound website (you have to scroll down to the bottom of the page to watch it).

But, both Naugatuck school officials and students alike, have made efforts to do something about this problem. A group of local high school students famously which included activities, discussions and an assembly over the course of a few weeks.

Most notably, the assembly showcased an open mic portion, when any student, victim or bully, was encouraged to come up and express their feelings on the matter. While the event wasn't open to the public, or the media, school officials have said that there were a few instances when a student who mistreated a fellow student came up and apologized.

Similarly, the school district also with students.

For more on dealing with bullying, one of our bloggers, Counselor Michael Stokes, .