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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
    View Poster
    View Poster

    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

    1ellipseanostalrius

    As the Teacher in the documentary said

    "I don't think anyone is going to want to watch your movie because it could be very tedious and boring."

    Spot on granny. Spot on.

    I like documentaries, but this...why was it made? Because someone had a feeling once.
    5PedroPires90

    Hum...

    Contrary to most on this network, I don't think we should only listen the victims. I think that to solve any problem, especially something endless and something that happened to so many, we need to try to understand it as a society.

    Now, I have some issues with the tone of this one. The music selected was weird and doesn't seem the right one for the moment. It doesn't seem to take the issue strongly and seriously enough, even if in the end the messages are mostly right. I like what it tries to do and tell, but I have some issues in how it tell us that.
    1Ducsoup

    "Hey man. Remember when we bullied you back in the 5th grade". No? Let me remind you and make a movie about it

    There was no deep meaning to be gleaned from this story. The ego of the filmmaker and those who participated were dismissive of their own actions while trying to shift blame away from these animals.

    There was one woman (with a c) interviewed who claimed to feel guilty while smiling and laughing through her entire interview. She seemed particularly proud of herself.

    You can easily sum up this very bad movie when at the end of the film the director says..."felt bad for the way you were treated" instead of "felt bad for the way WE treated you." What a joke.
    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.
    1jgiacobello-93621

    Have you no sense of decency?

    Self serving, self congratulatory trash. The worst kind of human trauma exploitation. Could this man not have at least read a book about the lasting effects of child abuse? "I guess I'm not as sensitive as I thought..." You have no idea.

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    Storyline

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    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

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

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