Does hatred and division soften the more we know and understand each other? Can intimacy foster empathy?

In the vein of the 80s film THE BREAKFAST CLUB, THE BULLY follows Wes, a shy student who can’t physically defend himself against Jack, a celebrated school athlete who bullies him. Instead, Wes neutralizes the attacks by placing a camera between them, under the pretext of making a documentary about the school’s star athlete. When Wes captures footage of Jack being abused by his father, he initially uses it to turn the tables on Jack. However, the exposure to Jack’s painful struggles leads to an unexpected connection between them.

The story takes place in the 1980s but is framed in a contemporary setting. It begins with Wes, now a psychologist, learning that Jack has taken his life, leaving behind a son. As Wes revisits their shared, pivotal life experience by watching the documentary footage he shot of Jack during their high school years, the story flashes back to the 1980s, where the events originally unfolded. In the film’s conclusion, we return to the 2020s, where Wes confronts Jack’s father who seeks custody of the son Jack leaves behind.