Bluebird

This is a TV movie out of the Netherlands about the psychological effects of Bullying. What makes this film so good is how understated and underplay the whole affair is. Any hint of melodrama or movie-of-the-week simplicity is left at the door. When this young 12 year old girl begins to be picked on by her classmates the fear is real. The way it affects her grades, her relationships at home and her extracirrular activies is a real as real can be. I dare you not to relate to this movie. That is all there is to it. It has a better than brilliant performance from first time actress Elske Rotteveel. It's one misstep is the addition of a limbless brother. While again it dances around the pitfalls of cliche regarding his presence in the movie, it pushes the heroine closer to the divine when it wasn't necessary. If you ever get the chance to see this, it is a quiet little gem.