Movie About Bullying Set for Special Screening in Richmond Next Week

One of this year's most powerful and thought-provoking films — Bully High — is making its way to Richmond for a special screening, thanks to the Eastern Kentucky University Psychology Clinic. The coming-of-age drama will screen on Wednesday, August 9 at 1:00 p.m. in the Dick Mayo Auditorium at the EKU library.

Bully High is both a love letter and a scathing commentary about the prevalent and controversial issues of religious prejudice, sexual orientation, and bullying. The film centers around a Muslim exchange student, Maryam Ali, who proudly wears her hijab to her new high school, triggering bigotry and harassment from school officials and other students, particularly the class bully Scarlett Smith and the school’s Government teacher Bob Walker, whose traumatic pasts are the basis for their personal resentment toward Maryam. Bob’s son and star of the school baseball team Zack Walker falls for Maryam, causing conflict between him and his Christian father. Meanwhile, Maryam’s new friend, a Christian lesbian named Nicole White, also fights to strip away stereotypes and stand up for her right to live in peace.

Here's the Bully High trailer:

"It’s about acceptance and not judging people. No matter what color the skin, what God is worshiped, sex, gender, race or age, we are all human. No one is above or below. We are all equal. We are all deserving of kindness and love," said Bully High writer and director Bill McAdams, Jr.

"This film is about seeing love in action. How far will we go for someone we love and the people we lose in the process," added one of the film's producers, Therese Moncrief.

Both McAdams, Jr. and Moncrief will be in attendance at the screening and will take questions from the audience after the film.

According to Dr. Melinda Moore, a core faculty member of EKU's Clinical Psychology doctoral program, "The social justice angle of this film is very much in line with our mission, so our faculty and doctoral students are excited to not only watch this film, but also discuss it's incredibly powerful message with the filmmakers."