This is an excellent look at the damage done to young people by relentless bullying and name calling. It is presented in a series of shorts, much of the narration sung by Paul who is the main focus of the film and of the bullying. It demonstrates quite accurately how school can be torture for those students who are made to feel bad about themselves because they are deemed unattractive or bad at sports or not academically strong or if, like Paul, they are gay.
Paul says that he is interested in theoretical physics, which suggests he ought to thrive in a school environment where learning ought to be fostered. Because he feels so miserable at school, he's not doing that well in classes and his sense of self-worth is rock bottom. He wonders aloud if he wouldn't be better off dead & buried rather than enduring this daily torment.
The old adage: "Sticks and stones will break my bones, But words will never harm me," is demonstrably false when those damaging words are heard day after day without let up . The portrayal of the damage done to young people who are forced to live in a bullying environment year after year in school while trying to get an education and to develop social skills is very well done, but if this series is meant to offer hope and to raise the spirits of those who suffer the bullying, I doubt it will have much of an impact.
The message "You are worthy of love" is nice and hopefully will make some kids feel better about themselves. The add-on messages from the Trevor Foundation telling at risk kids to call and talk to someone if they are thinking of suicide will hopefully save some lives, but I have my doubts that either will do much for many kids who experience the daily hell of high school and who are the targets of constant bullying and name calling.
At that age most kids are seeking peer approval and acceptance and a sense that they fit in. Being reminded daily that most of your peers consider you a joke, a fag, a retard and a loser is not going to be magically made better by reciting the slogan "I am worthy" or talking to an adult who says something akin to the "sticks and stones" nonsense or that "a little bullying will make you stronger."
At the very least, kids who are bullied are made to feel like crap for years on end. The opportunity to learn in a supportive environment is stolen from them, so they will be negatively impacted for the balance of their lives in many cases. And in some cases they decide enough is enough and run away from home, from school and maybe from life. The problem is not the kids being bullied and it won't be solved by writing slogans saying "I am worthy" or proclaiming "It gets better." The students who bully and the adults supposedly managing the school environment are at fault and remediation needs to be aimed at them.
