The documentary film, "Bully," which had originally received an R-rating from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), has now secured a PG-13 rating from the same group. The film follows five students and their families that have been affected by bullying.
The previous R-rating was due to strong language. That R-rating would prohibit children under age 17 from seeing the film without an adult -- much of the intended audience would have been kept out of the theater. However, the film has been editing to remove several instances of the language and now children as young as 13 can view it in the theater.
This film, and the struggle over the rating, has brought the issue of bullying front and center in Hollywood. Celebrities such as Joel McHale, Wilmer Valderrama, and Victoria Justice were present at the red carpet premiere, which was covered by E! Entertainment.
How does your District use different forms of media to help combat bullying? Do you plan on showing films such as "Bully" as a tool to educate students?
Remember that under AB 9, all Districts must update their anti-harassment policies to include anti-bullying and anti-intimidation language by July 2012.
For more coverage on "Bully" and the fight to get a PG-13 rating, see the MSNBC article here.
(Please note we have not yet viewed the film. This blog post is intended to be an editorial comment on the challenges faced in producing the film and the challenges faced by schools in educating their students on the dangers of bullying.)
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