Nerds That Geek Documentary Review: ‘Bullied’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the documentary film, ‘Bullied’.
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If there is one word in the English language that immediately evokes some kind of emotional response from all of us, it would have to be… bully. Because that word instantly reminds us of someone in our life, be it from our youth, or be it now, that fits the definition of that particular word. For sadly, bullies are an everyday thing, to the point where we have an actual mental playbook on how to deal with them. The kind that involves us walking away when they start their immature machinations, so we don’t have to deal with it. Or we know to clap back and stand tall when necessary since we are also taught that bullies don’t do well with having someone give them the business in return.
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But what is truly fascinating about bullies, is that we in essence, tolerate them. Because this is something that is generational now, to the point where those of us that grew up with bullies and started a family, are now teaching our kids how to deal with them. But while this is seemingly something that is just an everyday part of life, the fact that bullying is starting to find new ways to cause trouble for our youth and for adults… has us finally revisiting the concept of the bully and whether or not the time has come to put a stop to it. Simply because it is something that is getting dangerous now, and in order to educate us on the new problems that bullying is creating these days, documentary filmmaker Thomas Keith has opted to visit the topic in his latest work, aptly named Bullied.

Now in this particular documentary, Thomas wastes no time in pointing out the dangers that are now accompanying bullying. For the online world allows for this particular act to continue day and night since social media can help a bully to say something awful whenever they so choose, and the difficulties that come with monitoring such an issue, along with a generalized mantra that kids need to tough out such issues since they are ‘part of growing up’, is creating undue stress upon children and teenagers. For they are trying to reconcile the meaning of horrible words in the midst of emotional and physical growth and that is a painfully difficult task. One that kids and teens are struggling with, since these acts truly make them feel worthless and lost and that is leading to some worst-case scenarios.

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Because sadly, a great deal of children and teenagers that deal with excessive and relentless bullying on a consistent basis, are starting to turn to self-harm and suicide, which in turn leaves families broken and schools exposed. For this is of course, where the majority of bullying takes place and sadly, far too many schools are slow to react to the issue at hand, or they go after the wrong person in the matter and well… this segment of the documentary makes for some powerful moments for certain. Since these are facts that few of us were aware of and they outright give the viewer pause, and the interviews that Mister Keith conducts with the parents that have to solider on, really does paint a devastating picture of what bullying looks like in the modern era and how something needs to be done to help these kids and teens out.
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Which thankfully, the documentary takes the time to explore. Because believe it or not, there are solutions out there to potentially stop bullying at last so that it no longer becomes a part of everyday life and the answer to this problem might be simpler than we originally thought. For there are schools out there that are working to offer up social and emotional learning to go alongside the other lessons being taught in school. And this kind of coursework is designed to help kids to understand the emotional and social impact of their negative actions and the lasting effects they have upon people and well, it’s generating positive results. The kind that are keeping the peace in class and making kids and teens cognizant of what bullying can do and well, that allows for a sobering documentary about the impact of this subject, to end on quite the hopeful note. 

Because if this kind of teaching can continue to catch on and reach kids at an early age, and if parents can continue to be involved in this type of learning, then there is a chance that at long last, the bully can become a thing of a past and this documentary can become a lesson instead of a warning and well, in the end, this really is quite the incredible film for certain. One that holds nothing back in its presentation of a long-standing problem that has truly grown out of control and it is also a documentary that doesn’t sit on its laurels, by offering up observations over solutions and that makes this particular documentary an important and worthwhile watch for certain. Since it finally sheds some light and direction on a topic that modern society has ignored for far too long.

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