Review of Bus 174 (2002) by Jim F — 28 Sep 2012
How can a documentary about a pretty unremarkable and unpolitical highjacking of an ordinary street bus last for over 2 hours have me gripped from beginning to end? The opening overhead panorama showing the scale of Rio, the Favelas and the villas and mansions nearby was eye opening.
This was more than a documentary about a street kid who messed up a run of mill robbery. It detailed all that was wrong with society in Brazil. It highlighted the sheer contrast between the city commuters and the street kids with nowhere to live.
This is a society that doesn't want to acknowdge it's problems and would prefer to sweep it under the carpet. The footage of the actual hold up was interesting to watch. It showed the passage of time from the initial confrontations with the police during the day, and continued until the sun went down.
All this time the kid looked unproffesssional , crazy and desperate. To watch that footage alone would have me baying for a sniper to snipe him, but include his history, interviews with police, hostages, and relatives, I found myself sympathizing with him.
Things are not always black and white, and it is Brazillian society that is to blame. The police were so unproffesional and were it not for this, there would have been zero deaths. One other thing I found fascinating about this documentary was even with all the footage of the hold up taking place nobody actually knows how he came about to getting on the bus in the 1st place.
Maybe a witness could have explained this. Excellent documentary highlighting the complexities of life, people and crime. And what drives people to do such an act of desperation.
This review of Bus 174 (2002) was written by Jim F on 28 Sep 2012.
Bus 174 has generally received very positive reviews.
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