Bullied, Battered and Bruised

Summary: This powerful documentary looks at the significant psychological and physical implications of bullying, and profiles the way two schools are dealing with this difficult and pervasive problem. First, several students, parents and community members in a Manitoba town who, despite the threat of a community backlash, publicly voice their concerns about the bullying in their schools and participate in candid and emotional discussions about the problem and its effects. In interviews with school administration, their reluctance to acknowledge and address the issue is evident. Next, we visit an elementary school in B.C. that has successfully implemented a zero tolerance policy toward bullying; how the principal and teachers deal with the behaviour is presented. Following the documentary, experts discuss bullying in interview segments interspersed with personal testimonies from bullies and victims of bullying. A six-month update on the Manitoba community concludes the documentary revealing some dramatic changes for both the victims and the community.