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Bully

Bully

Representation Score

5.4/10

Fair

2017

PG-13

Director

Sjoerd de Bont

Runtime

85 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Bully (2017) offers a nuanced look at social friction by centering its conflict on underrepresented identities. The film succeeds in making LGBTQ+ identity and mental health central to the character arcs rather than using them as mere background details. However, the film remains tethered to traditional dramatic structures. The reliance on the bully/victim cliché and conventional masculine archetypes prevents a deeper deconstruction of gender hierarchies. While the film provides meaningful engagement with neurodivergence and sexual orientation, it lacks information regarding racial or ethnic diversity, leaving its broader social scope partially undefined.

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Category Breakdown

Does Bully have LGBTQ+ representation?

Good

The film centers on Suus, a lesbian student whose sexual orientation drives much of the central conflict. This approach moves past including someone from a minority group without giving them real depth to critique the social pressures of a school environment that assumes everyone is straight.

How does Bully portray gender?

Fair

The story explores gendered power through the archetype of the dominant male bully. While it highlights the friction between masculine dominance and female experiences, it relies on conventional dramatic clichés.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Bully?

Minimal

There is no information available regarding the racial or ethnic composition of the cast or the setting. As a result, no assessment of racial diversity can be made.

How does Bully represent religion and culture?

Fair

The narrative examines systemic dysfunction by portraying a fractured domestic unit. It prioritizes situational morality over idealized family structures, framing the home as a site of instability.

Does Bully include disability representation?

Good

Mental health is a significant narrative force through the character of Danny’s mother. The film explores how her illness directly impacts her child’s development and ability to act independently.

Present on Screen

  • The film avoids including someone from a minority group without giving them real depth by making Suus's lesbian identity a central driver of the narrative conflict.
  • Mental health is treated as a significant, driving force that shapes character development and ability to act.
  • The story provides a critique of the social pressures of a school environment that assumes everyone is straight.

Limited or Absent

  • The narrative relies on conventional bully/victim clichés rather than deconstructing gender hierarchies.
  • The film follows traditional masculine archetypes instead of exploring more subversive gender dynamics.
  • There is a lack of visible racial and ethnic diversity within the provided context.

Official Synopsis

Danny is a student that barely gets any attention at home because his mother is mentally ill. At school however, he is very popular and known as a big bully. His main victim is Suus, a lesbian classmate who faces many problems due to her sexual orientation.

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