Bully to Be Released Unrated

The campaign to have the MPAA reconsider their decision to change Bully‘s rating from an R to a less restrictive PG-13 hasn’t made the group budge – yet – so The Weinstein Company has opted to release the documentary film without a rating. The MPAA’s most recent vote came up one short, and TWC decided they have no real choice other than to move forward without a rating. Bully earned its R rating for language.
 
“While it’s often heartbreaking and deals with tough issues like suicide, the movie addresses bullying in a frank and relatable way that is age appropriate for teens and relevant for middle schoolers if an adult is present to guide the discussion,” stated James P. Steyer, Founder and CEO, Common Sense Media. “The MPAA’s ratings system is inadequate when it comes looking at a movie’s content through the lens of its larger thematic issues. Common Sense Media provides alternative ratings for parents who are looking for more guidance and context than the MPAA provides.”
 
Director Lee Hirsch added, “The small amount of language in the film that’s responsible for the R rating is there because it’s real. It’s what the children who are victims of bullying face on most days. All of our supporters see that, and we’re grateful for the support we’ve received across the board. I know the kids will come, so it’s up to the theaters to let them in.”
 
Michigan high school student Katy Butler’s (a victim of bullying) online petition at Change.org to have the rating reversed has gathered nearly half a million signatures, and has the backing of major names in the entertainment world as well as politicians. Commenting on the rating and the Butler’s campaign, TWC President of Marketing Stephen Bruno said, “The kids and families in this film are true heroes, and we believe theater owners everywhere will step up and do what’s right for the benefit of all of the children out there who have been bullied or may have otherwise become bullies themselves. We’re working to do everything we can to make this film available to as many parents, teachers and students across the country.”
 
Bully will hit theaters on March 30th.
 
The Story:
 
Bully is a beautifully cinematic, character-driven documentary. At its heart are those with huge stakes in this issue whose stories each represent a different facet of America’s bullying crisis. Filmed over the course of the 2009/2010 school year, Bully opens a window onto the pained and often endangered lives of bullied kids, revealing a problem that transcends geographic, racial, ethnic and economic borders. It documents the responses of teachers and administrators to aggressive behaviors that defy “kids will be kids” clichés, and it captures a growing movement among parents and youths to change how bullying is handled in schools, in communities and in society as a whole.
 
Source: The Weinstein Company