Culture and harassment

British mini-series – Netflix
Jamie, 13, is accused of murdering his classmate Katie. The series explores the roots of bullying, its invisibility, and the blurred responsibilities within a toxic school environment.

• • Invisible micro-aggressions (mockery, emojis, social isolation)
• • The silence of adults in the face of weak signals
• • The psychological impact of cyberbullying on identity development

• • The scene of Katie’s viral video in the hallway
• • Emoji-coded messages between students
• • Jamie’s session with the psychologist on internalized online hate speech

• • Why is cyberbullying harder to detect?
• • What forms can silent complicity take in a classroom?

Laura Wandel – Belgium
A realistic dive into the school playground through the eyes of Nora, age 7, a witness to the bullying suffered by her brother.

• • Invisible and everyday violence in primary school
• • The role of adult silence and powerlessness
• • A child’s perspective on injustice

• • The cafeteria scene where the humiliations begin
• • Nora hiding under the table after speaking out
• • The tense exchange with the father who wants to “fix things” without understanding

• • Why do we sometimes choose to stay silent when witnessing violence?
• • When does a game cross the line and become bullying?

Paul A. Kaufman – USA
An overweight teenager, nicknamed “Butter”, announces online that he will livestream his suicide on New Year’s Eve… and suddenly becomes popular.

• • Cyberbullying and the culture of spectacle
• • Emotional manipulation as a way to exist
• • The link between obesity, mockery, and self-image

• • The live suicide announcement
• • The “supportive” messages… laced with irony
• • The preparation of the “final” meal

• • What do the other students’ reactions reveal about how we relate to distress?
• • Is online compassion genuine or opportunistic?

Reinaldo Marcus Green – USA
Inspired by a true story: after the suicide of his son Jadin, who was the victim of homophobic bullying, Joe walks across the United States to raise awareness.

• • LGBTQ+ bullying and family silence
• • Grief, guilt, and remembrance
• • Public testimony as a form of healing

• • Flashbacks of Jadin at school
• • Joe’s monologue in a gymnasium
• • The final reveal of his absence

• • How do shame or fear prevent someone from asking for help?
• • Is it possible to repair something once it’s too late?

Amy Poehler – Netflix
A high school student creates an anonymous feminist zine to speak out against sexism, assault, and harassment at her school.

• • Gender-based harassment and violence in schools
• • Collective activism and speaking out
• • The ripple effect of a courageous act

• • The release of the first zine issue
• • The principal’s reaction to the demands
• • The solidarity scene in the locker room

• • What gives someone the courage to speak up?
• • Why can anonymity be a way to free one’s voice?

Diego Barragan – Mexico
Two teenagers plan an attack on their school after being humiliated and ignored by those around them. A raw fictional account of the extreme consequences of bullying.

• • Silent radicalization of victims
• • Absence of adult support
• • Bullying + isolation = breaking point

• • The pact between the two boys
• • The hallway scene where everything shifts
• • The video diary left by one of them

Gus Van Sant – USA
Loosely inspired by the Columbine massacre, this film follows an ordinary day in an American high school leading up to a final attack orchestrated by two isolated and bullied students.

• • Group indifference to marginalization
• • The banality of daily life that hides impending violence
• • Hyperrealism in portraying bullying and social rejection

• • The silent walk of students through the hallways
• • Microaggressions in the locker room
• • The tense waiting before the attack

• • At what point could the tragedy have been prevented?
• • Can bullying lead to a form of silent collective hatred?

• • The psychological consequences of cumulative bullying
• • Shared responsibility among peers, adults, and institutions
• • The weight of silence and the “domino effect” logic

• • The moment when Hannah is excluded from the group
• • The locker scene with the tapes
• • The school board meeting, torn between denial and helplessness

• • What’s worse: bullying, ignoring… or not believing?
• • Can we make up for a voice we failed to hear in time?