Why would parents NOT take their kids to see this?

You can slap an R rating on it but that doesn't make the issue go away. I'm glad the PG-13 rating is there now making it more accessible to a younger audience. These are the students who need to see it. I'm not sure how many young people really understand the gravity of the situation overall. When we have children taking their own lives because of the words and actions of others, we need to act. I hope that seeing the issue presented in this way helps others understand the consequence of their actions.

My son is also in the Austistic Spectrum . He is taunted daily, called fat and retard by many of the kids in school, and by kids on his football team. Many times he is potrayed as the mean kid, with the adults not realizing that he is actually reacting to what others are doing to him. Not sure if I will take him to the theater to watch. I may want to watch in the privacy of our home, only because I don't know if I or my son will be able to keep our emotions at bay. Either way, this IS a movie that we WILL see!!!

We desperately need a movie that will unpack these complicated issues – that will not only interview the bullied children and their families, but will also interview the bullies to find out what causes them to do what they do. A movie that will interview the parents of the bullies and find out what role they play, and potentially hold them accountable. A movie that will interview the teachers and the administrators and get to the bottom of why they are unable or unwilling to act. We desperately need that movie, but unfortunately, this wasn’t it.
Here's my full review with more details: http://mattreviewsstuff.com/2012/04/09/bully/

Jodie, what's been the reaction from your son's teachers, counselors, etc. regarding the way he's been treated by his classmates? Do they seem proactive and willing to discuss the matter? Have any changes been made to make things easier for him at school?

Where will this be showing? I have looked at Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and Des Moines, and it doesn't seem to be playing anywhere. I work with teenagers from the Iowa City area and would love to take them to see this!

My son is not allowed to watch films that depict growing up as a horrific thing called "bullying"! I taught my son from day one that the only way to go through life is to fight tooth and nail for whatever he wants. So far he is captain of Valley's football team, has 3 that's right 3 girlfriends, and beats the living crap out of kids for money that they have worked desperatly for! All you Urbandalians are so sensitive and address these matters with a mile long pole. I would like my son to stick his mile long pole of success in all of your faces and then have you all tell me bullying is a "bad thing".

Your outlook on life Rick is disturbing to say the least. I wonder if you've given any consideration to the fact that no man is an island and that there will always be someone out there bigger, faster, stronger, meaner than your son... What will he fall back on when he meets that person? Friends? His friendships will be shallow and meaningless if all they are based on is fear and forced popularity. You may find your son feeling hollower than most victims of bullying... what inner strength will that give him should he ever come to self retrospect... I hope for your son's sake he will find out the importance of equality, honour, trust and kindness his own way because it sounds like all you are doing is forcing him to be one of the world's people we can do without.

I agree with some of what you are saying Larissa. My son was bullied everyday for a long time. Everyday the poor kid would come home crying after being beaten up by a bully all because he was taught to not fight. Well finally I had had enough and one day I followed them home from school, and sure enough there was the bully picking on my son. So I took my son by the arm and I told him if he didn't kick this kids butt then I was gonna kick his and yep..he did and that kid never picked on him again. I never encouraged my kids to pick a fight but by gosh I also taught them to never walk away from one either. Someone has to teach the bullies a lesson and if they want to start it, its up to the other guy to finish it. That is the only thing a true bully understands and they seem to keep going untill they get their own butt kicked.

So my conclusion is to teach your children to not bully other kids, but don't let the bullies get away with bullying either. If a bully is taunting or even hitting your child, having your child stand up to the bully, takes their power away. So a bully can't bully if you don't let him.