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When We Were Bullies

Play trailer 1:20 Poster for When We Were Bullies 2021 36m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 1 Reviews 46% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
A coincidence leads filmmaker Jay Rosenblatt to track down his fifth-grade class and fifth-grade teacher to examine their memory of and complicity in a bullying incident 50 years ago.
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When We Were Bullies

Critics Reviews

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Noel Murray Los Angeles Times Through interviews and animated re-creations, these people and the filmmaker sort through their recollections, trying to figure out exactly what happened — and why they still can’t shake it. Apr 1, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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jayski a I really enjoyed this. It was interesting to see each person's take on what they thought happened and their recollection of the boy 45-50 years ago. The teacher, who is still alive at the time this was done, was very interesting and her remembrance of the incident was humbling. Shame there was no 'real end' to the movie (you'll see) but I was engaged the whole 36 minutes. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member I’ve never considered leaving a film review before this one. I’m angered that anyone, anywhere, encouraged the existence of this film. For those who were intrigued after watching the trailer on HBO Max (like me), or who could identify with the topic of grade school bullying (also like me) - please only consider watching if train-wreck cinema appeals to you. I wish I had thought to read reviews first. This film offers *nothing* meaningful - no life lessons (despite the creator’s hollow pleas), no insightful recollections, no happy outcome, no twists or turns. Hearing classmates recount their negative memories of the bullied kid (which linger 50y after the fact) - yet also wish him well now - made me want to vomit with rage. What in tarnation was the point??? As if any sane sexagenarian would *still* hold a grudge and wish a *poor* life for the bullied kid today??? At the start, I was hopeful that the Interview of the teacher would be insightful - but no, she has no memory of the incident. Her most meaningful contribution is to astutely point out that no one should want to watch this film. Also, seeing the same 1960s clips over and over and over again is weak. I am glad the bullied kid chose no involvement - obviously the right choice; kudos to him. The filmmaker pressing on anyway - obviously the *wrong* choice. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 07/04/22 Full Review Audience Member I hated this film. I wish I could say it more strongly. The director clearly did not know, or even care enough to find out, how destabilizing childhood abuse and trauma can be for a human being, or how difficult it is to reprocess and heal from it as an adult. This was a heartless, gutless piece of garbage. Be proud of your hollow nomination and try not to think about how you earned it - on the pain of another human being you barely acknowledged. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Tedious vanity project. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review jona i Very reflective and introspective. A very good long-lasting look at bullying and childhood. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
When We Were Bullies

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis A coincidence leads filmmaker Jay Rosenblatt to track down his fifth-grade class and fifth-grade teacher to examine their memory of and complicity in a bullying incident 50 years ago.
Director
Jay Rosenblatt
Producer
Jay Rosenblatt, Elena Filippini, Stefano Tealdi
Screenwriter
Jay Rosenblatt
Production Co
Arte Deutschland TV, Stefilm International
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 30, 2022
Runtime
36m
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