Welcome To The Dollhouse (1994)

Todd Solondz debut (I think) flick is a black comedy about the terrors of being a 12 year old girl who, as most of us who can remember that age will testify as being true, doesn't feel as she belongs anywhere, not even in the familial home. Tormented by all, including the ones who should know better, she lives a life slightly one step to the left of everyone else. With a punishing truthfulness Solondz pulls no punches about the awfulness of these years but somehow manages to make an engaging, frequently funny, film that makes you want to contact old school mates to apologise - everyone at some point in their formative youth will have been a monster - the girl in question, Dawn, herself passes her torments straight down to her little sister who is the only person she can be nasty to. An excellent film that begs people, parents and friends alike, to walk a while in other people's shoes before they judge.