pensacolacomputer
This is not really a review of the documentary but more of a thank you to Lizzie.Its impossible not to shed a tear during this documentary. I think everyone has been bullied at one time or another in their lives. At times I had an extremely tough time in school. I was called many hateful names and each and every time it hurt. I'm a lover not a fighter type. But people just do not realize the impact they have when they pick on other people. Its so sad that people have killed themselves because of this. Some are very young kids with their whole lives ahead of them. So please everyone out there who is having a tough time or being bullied, just remember, it gets better, I promise. Please don't give up, don't give in. Get some help from someone or call one of the hotlines that are available. You are a special person and are here for a reason.Knowing Lizzie Velasquez, she will probably read each and every review here, so from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you. Thank you for your kindness, courage, inspiration, and motivation to help others. Keep doing what you're doing, you have probably saved many lives. If the majority of the world were a little more like you, it would be a better place to live.
clintdavis
POWERFULLY INSPIRING I was fortunate to see this movie at the SXSW Film Festival. The movie paints a beautiful portrait of Lizzie Velasquez and her family. One of the primary messages I took from the movie was the importance of a family's love in enabling a child to rise about challenges. The movie shows how Lizzie's parents and siblings raised her surrounded with their complete and unconditional love. The movie contains a great deal of serious content about bullying, but the movie is also full of joy and many humorous scenes that are truly endearing. Ultimately, the message of the movie is optimistic in that one person, especially a person surrounded with the love of an awesome family, truly can change the world for the better.
ronvalderrama
In today's world of social media, bullying can hit fast and hard. This film does an amazing job of telling the affects of bullying and how to turn it around. As someone who has started a company, I think the film also serves as an amazing motivator for people who dream big and go after their passion. Lizzy actually shows you a different way to measure success through her passion. I had the pleasure of meeting her at the premiere and she even took time to send my seven year old daughter a video message. Well worth watching.Ron Valderrama Founder, Stream Now TV
JustCuriosity
A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story was extremely well-received in its hometown premiere at the Paramount Theatre at Austin's SXSW Film Festival. One can not help but be inspired by the struggle of someone like Lizzie Velasquez to overcome her disabilities and stand up for other kids who have been bullied. It is a remarkable journey and the film works fairly well as memoir of Lizzie's journey and a tribute to the love and devotion of her parents. Her personal story of overcoming adversity and her ability to turn her disability around and use it to help others as an activist is uplifting. It is also shameful that Republicans in the U.S. Congress have been blocking the passage of anti-bullying legislation in the name of small government and local control of schools. While Lizzie's story is deeply inspiring the film is a little slow and repetitive. It falls into an emerging genre of anti-bullying films such as Bully. It may be in part, because it is designed to tell the story to young people rather than adults. There are a lot of simplistic clichés that don't really get at the causes of bullying or explore why young people become bullies or how adults can interdict and prevent bullying. This would have strengthened the film considerably. In short, Lizzie's personal story is stronger than the film meant to tell her story.
AD
