The Bad Kids

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The Bad Kids

Released Jan 22, 2016

1h 41m

Documentary

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14 Reviews

81%

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100+ Ratings

Located in an impoverished Mojave Desert community, Black Rock Continuation High School is one of California's alternative schools for students at risk of dropping out. Every student here has fallen so far behind in credits that they have no hope of earning a diploma at a traditional high school. Black Rock is their last chance. This film is an observational documentary that chronicles one extraordinary principal's mission to realize the potential of these students.

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Daphne Howland

Village Voice

Desert flowers can be hard to spot, but are often distinctly beautiful, and The Bad Kids has them in focus.

Dec 22, 2016

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Diego Semerene

Slant Magazine

Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe's documentary raises important questions about the limits of pedagogy.

Rated: 3.5/4

Dec 20, 2016

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Justin Lowe

The Hollywood Reporter

An insightful, affecting film that casts sympathetic light on a neglected educational sector.

Dec 20, 2016

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Anthony Salveggi

Paste Magazine

An affecting and enlightening documentary, The Bad Kids offers a fly-on-the-wall look at efforts to help students graduate high school despite their personal struggles and looming sense of hopelessness.

Rated: 7.6/10

Jan 6, 2017

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David Noh

Film Journal International

Students on the brink of disaster are the subject of this admirably heartfelt and uncondescending documentary.

Dec 22, 2016

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Sean P. Means

Salt Lake Tribune

Determined teachers fight long odds in The Bad Kids, a slice-of-life documentary of the struggles in a high school for at-risk youth in California's Mojave Desert.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 20, 2016

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Audience Member

Fascinating and moving.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Audience Member

Interesante documental sobre la vida de los adolescentes provenientes de familias fracasadas (drogas, alcohol, violencia) que reciben su ultima oportunidad de graduarse de secundaria en esta escuela dirigida por una increíble mujer, Vonda Viland que cuenta con un grupo de profesores de admirar. El material es muy bueno pero no llama mucho la atención para llevarlo al cine, no parece bien enmarcado, las historias se van desarrollando cada una por su lado sin la suficiente profundidad. Sin embargo es muy interesante pero para ver en casita.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

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Audience Member

This Documentry shows the student's and staff's struggles with getting from almost dropping out to graduating. 89.9% are from families that are below the poverty line. The lady that runs this school and the staff are the true heroes of modern society.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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Audience Member

Documentary shows the work of teachers to help kids graduate despite what is happening around them that impacts on their chances to succeed. Amazing footage and the kids are wonderful. Standout is principal Viland. Probably would have liked if producers had interviewed kids or teachers directly, but in a way that would have been easy way out. Working from "fly-on-the-wall" approach ensures realism (as far as possible).

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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greg r

Heros. Fucking Heros!!!!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

3/25/17 PBS Independent Lens An up close and intimate look at kids who are struggling in so many ways from home life, school life and social life and the dedicated educators who lay it all on the line for them. The good news is that a school like Black Rock exists, the bad news is that it is full and has a waiting list. It would have been interesting to learn how some of the kids who graduated did and where they are now in their lives

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

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Keith Fulton

Director

Louis Pepe

Director

Keith Fulton

Producer

Donna Gruneich

Executive Producer

Kevin Gruneich

Executive Producer

Ted Dintersmith

Executive Producer

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Synopsis

Located in an impoverished Mojave Desert community, Black Rock Continuation High School is one of California's alternative schools for students at risk of dropping out. Every student here has fallen so far behind in credits that they have no hope of earning a diploma at a traditional high school. Black Rock is their last chance. This film is an observational documentary that chronicles one extraordinary principal's mission to realize the potential of these students.

Director: Keith Fulton, Louis Pepe
Producer: Keith Fulton
Production Co: Low Key Pictures
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 22, 2016, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 17, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.4K
Runtime: 1h 41m
Sound Mix: DTS, SDDS, Dolby Digital

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