3 Films to End Bullying
Strategies from Canada’s legendary public film producer.
Originally published at NFB Education (February 2023)
Yes, you know Hollywood. You probably know Bollywood. I bet you didn’t know, however, that the National Film Board of Canada (the NFB) has won over 5000 international film awards, including 74 Academy Awards nominations — more than any other film organization in the world outside of Hollywood. They’ve also won 5 Peabody Awards and 17 Webby Awards, in case that wasn’t enough for you to pay attention.
So what does the NFB have to offer you, other than some of the best films in the world?
How about a solution to bullying?
In honour of the upcoming #pinkshirtday, the NFB has curated a selection of films, resources, and lessons for educators to use in the fight against bullying.
After all, you were bullied in school. Or maybe you bullied someone. Or, even more likely, you stood by and watched as someone got bullied.
Bullying? Still?
Bullying — social or physical aggression used to dominate someone — is a serious issue in schools around the world, and has become increasingly complex over time. Mental health, social media and many other factors have made bullying in the 21st century a new challenge for even experienced educators.
Social inclusion and exclusion are motivating factors behind bullying. To children and youth, it’s a critical part of their psychological formation. Teenagers in particular put more value on their friend groups than parents, teachers or other potential role models. Some will abuse this value to gain power over others through physical or emotional bullying, especially if it targets any person or group who doesn’t “fit in” with what they think is socially acceptable.
So do yourself a favour. Take a look at these films. They’ll help you save your students.
Violence — “Bully Dance” (dir. Janet Perlman, 2000)
In this animated short film, ideal for younger elementary students, a community of dancers has to deal with a bully. A student is injured after a long period of physical bullying, and after learning that the bully has their own issues at home, the community is forced to make a decision about inclusion.
The two teacher guides for Bully Dance provide excellent worksheets, discussion strategies, and activities that help create a culture of conflict resolution in your classroom. Importantly, the film recognizes that bullies are often the victim of bullying themselves and also require support.
Discrimination — “Tales of Ordinary Fatphobia” (dir. Josiane Blanc, 2019)
This short documentary uses a mix of live interviews and animation to create a deeply moving story about young girls facing bullying because of their body size and shape. Tales of Ordinary Fatphobia looks at the impact of social bullying on both the victims and their families. It argues that society needs to face weight discrimination head on and have better media representation of all body sizes.
The viewing guide and lesson plan for Tales of Ordinary Fatphobia address stereotypes, social issues and mental health concerns that are caused by weight discrimination. These resources guide students to think about their own involvement in bullying and to create an awareness campaign to fight it.
Cyberbullying — “Star Wars Kid: The Rise of the Digital Shadows” (dir. Mathieu Fournier, 2022)
More and more bullying happens online. Star Wars Kid examines one of the first — and most famous — examples of cyberbullying, bringing the victim and the bully together to talk, years later. This documentary looks at the social, financial, legal and mental impacts of cyberbullying through the eyes of Ghyslain Raza, the “Star Wars Kid” himself.
The lesson for Star Wars Kid uses a variety of strategies to examine the right to privacy, consent and how “compassionate inaction” can help prevent students’ worst impulses online. This film is well-suited to an older audience investigating the connections between media studies and bullying.
#pinkshirtday
Pink Shirt Day is a national phenomenon that began in 2007. When a Nova Scotia student was bullied for wearing a pink shirt, his classmates bought and handed out 50 pink shirts to their fellow students, spreading their anti-bullying message. Since then, the last Wednesday in February has been designated “Pink Shirt Day” across Canada, where students stand up to bullying and practise resolving conflicts in a safe, healthy manner.
The NFB is proud to support Pink Shirt Day by offering these film resources, among many others, to educators. Talk to your school administrator or anti-bullying lead about more Pink Shirt Day resources you can access in your province or territory.
Most school boards offer a safe schools or progressive discipline program that provides educators with guidelines on how to handle bullying. In addition to the NFB’s anti-bullying resources, you might also consider using the following well-respected tools:
Mario Mabrucco is a Toronto educator with almost 20 years experience teaching literacy, social sciences, and arts to students in schools, theaters, hospitals, and churches across Canada and Europe. He holds an M.Ed in Curriculum & Pedagogy, with a specialization in Educational Policy, from the University of Toronto, where he mentors new M.Ed students. You can find his writing with the National Film Board of Canada, the American Alliance for Theatre & Education, the Ontario Librarian Association, the Human Restoration Project, Age of Awareness, Teachers on Fire, and Educate. Look for him on Twitter, Substack, or on his blog.
