Anti-Bullying Advocates Want New Film Rerated From 'R' to 'PG-13'

The film is called "Bully" and it hits close to home for Oklahomans featured in the documentary set to hit theatres March 30th, but a recent "R" rating has anti-bullying groups asking once more to have the film rerated "PG-13."

Advocates say it's an "R" rated film parents should let their kids watch.

The fight to get the movie rerated is creating a firestorm online.

The trailer for the film shows a glimpse into the lives of five families affected by bullying. It follows just a few of an estimated 13 million kids who are hit, punched, and bullied every year. Advocacy groups say myths and clichés "Kids will be kids" and "Boys will be boys," are not helping.

"Young boys and young girls every single year take their own lives. We call it 'bully-cide' because they've been terrorized at school," Education Advocacy Group's Mark Brennaman said.

Two of the five families highlighted in the documentary are from Oklahoma, One father's tragic story we already know.

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"They called him a geek. Some of the kids had told him he's worthless, to go hang himself, and I think he got to the point where enough was enough," father, Kirk Smalley says in the film.

Cameras caught it all--the violence and bad language, the reality of bullying. It was for the language that the Motion Picture Association of America twice voted to give the movie an "R" rating.

"If the ratings board would simply understand if they change to "PG-13," they will actually save lives," Brennaman said.

Brennaman is just one of more than 150,000 petitioners asking to get the film rerated.

"Without it we will continue to have 'bully-cides' take place, all around the world," he said.

The MPAA posted in a blog the subject of the film is not part of the rating.

The "PG-13" rating lost by one vote the second time it was considered.

The fight continues for those who say every family needs to see this film.

Here's the on-line petition to get the film rerated to "PG-13."

The documentary is set to be released nationwide March 30th.

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