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Quentin Tarantino's Favorite Movies: 40 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Peaceful' Review: Catherine Deneuve and a Real-Life Oncologist Star in an Overwrought French Cancer DramaĢ4 Famously Queer and Homoerotic Horror Movies, from 'Psycho' to 'Hellraiser' 'Enola Holmes 2' Review: Millie Bobby Brown's Teen Detective Gets an Elementary Sequel This would be the first national legislation that addresses cyberbullying and its dangers, and Velasquez’s personal narrative helps garner support on her visit to Washington, DC. She uses her fame and experience to advocate for others in her position, not only in motivational speeches around the world, but also in working to get Congress behind the Safe Schools Improvement Act.
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Her TEDx talk got millions of views on the same platform where she was harassed, pushing her into the spotlight. Velasquez was devastated, but she pushed past it to become a champion for those like her who experience bullying in real life and on the internet. The galvanizing moment in her story was when she happened upon a YouTube video of herself at 17-years-old with the title “The World’s Ugliest Woman” and even meaner comments beneath it. But her buoyant spirit and supportive family pushed her past the pain and made her a favorite with those around her. Born in 1989 with a rare genetic disorder, Velasquez experienced bullying and isolation as a young girl who didn’t look like her classmates as she was unable to gain weight and had issues with her sight. Sara Hirsh Bordo’s directorial debut explores the moving story of Lizzie Velasquez. But “ A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story” threatens to melt even the grinchiest of hearts in its audience, sending us to looking for alternatives to avoid overusing the word “inspiring.” Criticizing a capably made documentary whose primary goal is to educate its audience about the triumph of a woman who won’t be a victim of cyberbullying could put you on the level with a cruel, faceless YouTube commenter. Film critics are often seen as a cynical bunch, eager to tear into anything too sweet or sincere and mock it in quippy headlines and snarky pull quotes.
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