Bullying, the hot-topic documentary subject of recent
years, comes home in the new nonfiction short film REJECT, made by New
York-based producer-director Ruth Thomas-Suh. After its appearance at the 2013
Cleveland International Film Festival, followed by engagements in the UK
and France,
REJECT makes an appearance, with a panel discussion, at Parma
High School on Saturday, May 3.
The film crosses the country to present two cases of
youthful pathologies that resulted in abuse, and worse. Right here, in Mentor,
two bereaved parents, Jan and Bill Mohat, recount how the long-term persecution
of their son Eric culminated in his suicide at age 17. In Oklahoma,
meanwhile, Justin, only age 5, is already in constant trouble and displaying
the psychological profile of a bully-in-training. Experts in the fields of
medicine, law and social work lend their thoughts about what factors contribute
to an unhealthy, bullying environment.
