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It’s not easy being different—especially when you’re a kid. Statistics show that nearly one in every four students faces some kind of bullying at school. The real-life drama Joe Bell tells the story of one of them—and a dad who decided to stand up for his bullied son by walking across the country to promote tolerance.
Joe Bell follows Mark Wahlberg’s Joe, a working class dad from a small town in Oregon, as he sets out on a walk across the country to promote inclusion and acceptance. As he spends months walking the roads alone, heading toward New York City, he looks back on the months leading up to his departure—how he wasn’t sure how to handle the fact that his teenage son, Jadin (Reid Miller), was gay or how to deal with the bullying Jadin endured at school. So on his walk, he speaks out on his son’s behalf.
As the miles pass on Joe’s cross-country journey, the film looks back on Jadin’s experiences at school and at home. He faced bullying from hateful kids at school, but even those in positions of authority—and those who loved him the most—just didn’t understand. Joe recommended keeping quiet about his identity to keep the bullying to a minimum, and the school suggested changing schools or seeking therapy, since filing a complaint would only make it worse. Jadin’s story is a heartbreaking one—and Miller’s performance is so believable that you’ll want to reach through the screen and give him a hug. But the fact that this is the daily reality for so many kids makes his story even more heartbreaking.
But this film isn’t just about Jadin. It’s also about Joe—and any other parent, family member, or friend who’s struggling to find the best way to protect and support these children. It’s about Joe’s shame and guilt for the way he sometimes treated his son. And as Joe continues on his walk, meeting people and hearing their stories, he begins to understand more about what happened and what more he could have done.
There are definitely times when Joe’s journey seems to drag out like those long, endless, lonely miles—and when the story fails to capture all of the emotion and drama. It certainly could have told more of Jadin’s story—and the stories of others, too. But there’s still so much to learn from Jadin and Joe in this moving, eye-opening film.
Really, Joe Bell shows just the tip of the bullying iceberg. But in following this loving father on his mission, it speaks out for Jadin and for those like him.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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