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When We Were Bullies

  • 2021
  • TV-14
  • 36m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
When We Were Bullies (2021)
A mind-boggling coincidence leads the filmmaker 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.
Play trailer1:21
1 Video
4 Photos
DocumentaryShort

A mind-boggling coincidence leads the filmmaker 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.A mind-boggling coincidence leads the filmmaker 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.A mind-boggling coincidence leads the filmmaker 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
  • Writer
    • Jay Rosenblatt
  • Stars
    • Mark Athitakis
    • Ruth Bromberg
    • Wendy Newman
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.4/10
    1.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jay Rosenblatt
    • Writer
      • Jay Rosenblatt
    • Stars
      • Mark Athitakis
      • Ruth Bromberg
      • Wendy Newman
    • 39User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 3 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:21
    Official Trailer

    Photos3

    View Poster
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    Top cast6

    Edit
    Mark Athitakis
    • Self
    Ruth Bromberg
    • Self
    Wendy Newman
    • Self
    Jay Rosenblatt
    • Self
    Richard Silberg
    • Self
    Richard J. Silberg
    Richard J. Silberg
    • Self
    • Director
      • Jay Rosenblatt
    • Writer
      • Jay Rosenblatt
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews39

    5.41.3K
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    Featured reviews

    1patrickfilbeck

    A disgusting, unreflective film by a bully

    This documentary is an affront to victims of bullying and the following explains why: The filmmaker himself is the bully from the past, which would still be okay if he approached the matter in a self-reflective manner. But he doesn't do that, instead he draws an explanation for his actions that could hardly be cheaper and more mendacious. Because towards the end of the short documentary he explains that he does not contact the victim of bullying, as allegedly originally wanted, and ask for an interview, but rather writes a letter. The reason is that he does not want to bring people into a new forced situation and did not want to end up clichéd with the strength of those who lead a successful life despite being bullied. In truth, however, he does not find out what consequences his bullying had on the victim. His letter is the height of spiritual poverty. There he justifies his actions with the pain he had in himself because his brother died in the fourth grade. This pain specifically made him bully and torment this other boy. His reading of these events is that everyone carries pain within themselves and that then connects everyone - including him and his victim of bullying. This is outrageous and rightly provokes anger for viewers. Because it would even be possible that the bullied person also experienced pain from a loss, just not bullying others because of it. The emotional pain of both is just not comparable, because the bully reduces the pain of the bullied to what he did to him. What the bully did, however, he supposedly did out of an equal pain ... and, in the opinion of the poor filmmaker, that connects the two. Aha. In fact, the bully seems to be looking for an excuse for himself. Today, as a grown man, he prefers to talk about his pain and he does this by not only comparing his pain with the pain of his victim, but even equating it. It's disgusting and so weak that looking at it doesn't squeeze your tear gland, but instead the food comes up again.
    1ericmartintech

    There are a lot of one-star ratings here for a reason

    And mine is one of them. This film was manipulative and dishonest. Much like bullies themselves. It is revealing that the director did not choose to actually talk with anyone about schoolyard bullying. Avoidance of responsibility and consequences color this project throughout.
    1imdb-14508

    Should be titled We ARE Bullies

    What a shallow, narcissistic, self-absolving exploitation of a childhood victim's trauma, replete with re-victimization and bad mouthing.

    The fact that it "earned" an Oscar nom should confirm everything you must already think about The Academy, and is entirely congruent with the Wil Smith standing ovation.
    1ossie85

    Narcissistic dribble

    Edit: killercola suggested that my review was disingenuous because I was a victim of bullying. Since they are reviewing the reviewers, I feel inclined to comment.

    You are damn right I'm angry. But that doesn't make my experience watching this film any less honest. And just because I disagree with point of the film, doesn't mean I don't understand it.

    It is shameful that the film maker made a documentary that heavily involved a person, but failed to seek comment from that person. If he was genuinely concerned it would trigger him, he wouldn't release the film without his permission in the first place.

    If you feel this is a 9 out of 10, good for you. I'm not going to suggest your experience was dishonest, please lend others the same courtesy.

    Original review:

    Guy suddenly remembers he bullied someone, and makes the story all about himself, and makes a career from it.

    No genuine remorse comes across to me.

    Tries to justify his actions, to the point it becomes propaganda... 'boys will be boys'.. 'hardwired to attack the vulnerable'

    Plus, so BORING. There's no real insight, and I don't include 'we kids were cruel cos we were kids'.

    How it got an Oscar nomination is beyond me.
    1rustimalone

    I Agree With The Bad Reviews

    Pompous, self- serving, insensitive TRASH. I kept on hoping that something great would come of this film, but it fell flat. Not impressed. I think that he had the brilliant idea of making this movie whilst riding on the back of a unicorn. Totally delusional.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Quotes

      Jay Rosenblatt: For me the memory was vague; all I knew for sure is that it happened and I participated.

    • Crazy credits
      The very end of the credits features more stop motion animation of the Dick photo on the playground as it quickly "walks" off-screen.
    • Connections
      References The Smell of Burning Ants (1994)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 30, 2022 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Germany
      • United States
    • Official site
      • GONELLA PRODUCTIONS
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Als wir Tyrannen waren
    • Production companies
      • ARTE
      • Stefilm International
      • Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      36 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16 : 9

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