Joe Bell tells the true story of a father who traveled across America to raise awareness about teen violence and suicide. It's a sad but hopeful story, anchored by an excellent performance from Mark Wahlberg as Joe and an equally brilliant performance from relative newcomer Reid Miller as Joe's 15-year-old son, Jadin.
The film is heartwarming, not least because of the reasons behind Joe's decision to embark on his personal crusade. Unfortunately, things take a tragic turn at the end of this emotional drama, so if viewers don't know what happened to Joe, they should brace themselves for a shock.
Why did Joe decide to travel across America?
On February 29, 2013, 15-year-old Jadin Book committed suicide after being bullied and ridiculed by his classmates. Jadin was openly gay and was the victim of physical and verbal abuse by his peers. According to the film, the school did little to help him, so he decided to hang himself, feeling vulnerable and alone.
Not wanting Jadi's death to be in vain, Joe decided to commemorate his late son by traveling across America, visiting schools and community groups to raise awareness about the effects of bullying. He planned to walk the 3,985 miles from La Grande to New York. She chose New York because it was where Jad wanted to move to after graduation.
Did Joe travel alone?
For most of his journey, Joe travels alone, although in the film he at least occasionally converses with an imaginary version of Jadie. However, there were moments when Joe was joined by people who wanted to support his message and mission.
After hearing what Joe had been up to, they traveled to find the grieving father to offer food, shelter and lots of friendly encouragement. One such person was the sheriff of Lincoln County (played by Gary Sinise), who is the father of another gay son, who manages to offer Joe comfort and friendship.
Does Joe complete his journey?
Joe traveled across America for six months, spreading the word about teen violence and LGBTQ youth to anyone who gave him a platform to share his message. He had planned to travel for two years before returning home, but as the film draws to a close, another tragedy strikes.
Joe was killed when he was struck by a tractor-trailer while crossing a two-lane highway in eastern Colorado. According to police, the driver of the car fell asleep at the wheel before hitting Joe. The news of his death shocked everyone who knew him, including the sheriff who met Joe the day before his death.
Joe's death was heartbreaking and a shocking conclusion to a film already filled with tragedy. But just as Joe was convinced that his son had not died in vain, others were convinced that Joe had not died in vain.
Joe's death was heartbreaking and a shocking conclusion to a film already filled with tragedy. But just as Joe was convinced that his son had not died in vain, others were convinced that Joe had not died in vain.
What happened after Joe's death?
After Jadin's death, his friends and family founded Faces for Change, an anti-bullying organization. While Joe was on the walk, donations were made to the organization to support Joe's mission, and years after his death, the group still exists today. Check out their Facebook page to learn more.
Thanks to the work of Joe and the people who have since picked up the baton and shared his message, many schools have adopted anti-bullying policies and support systems for LGBTQ students. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Joe wants schools to train their counselors in suicide prevention, so it's good to know it's finally happening.
Joe's death was certainly tragic, as was Caddy's. Today, suicide is still the leading cause of death for young people, especially those who identify as gay and/or transgender.
According to The Trevor Project, every 45 seconds in the United States, at least one LGBTQ youth between the ages of 13 and 24 attempts suicide.
However, thanks to Joe's message of awareness and the work of Faces For Change (and organizations like them), there is hope. Suicidal thinkers have more people and places to turn to because of the systems in place in schools and beyond.
After watching the film, what can you do to help?
If you're someone who's been bullied, whether it's because of your sexuality or not, it's important to know that you're not alone. Seek support from any helpful person at your school, talk to your family if you can, and look online for any groups that might be able to help you.
0 Comments