I forgot about that! No, this came earlier. Early or mid 80s. A teenager, Rocky, with a deformed skull and face (Eric Stoltz) and his mom (Cher), a drug user deal with his illness and the reactions of people who see him as a monster. Sam Elliott plays her boyfriend, who is a father-figure to Rocky. Estelle Parsons (from Golden Girls) plays Cher's mom.
There is so much to that movie. Life, death, illness, the cruely of kids making fun of others, coming-of-age, falling in love, family, belief in yourself, friendship, etc.
The reason I show it to the kids is to reinforce why you shouldn't make fun of others and that people who do it are nasty and not worth worrying about. And it drives home, in the way I don't think any other movie does the idea that people aren't what they look like.
I'm not a professional movie reviewer and can't do it justice. I just really wish every 12 year old would watch that movie and have to think about it (which would be the reason for the essay.)
It is a true story, based on the life of Rocky Dennis.