Review of Bus 174 (2002) by Dan B — 24 May 2008
Based around the kind of true crime news footage that normally appears in a 5 minute segment on something like 'Cops', 'Bus 174' is a vivid and thorough dissection of the events surrounding a 4 hour stand off on a Rio de Janeiro bus. Investigating the life of Sandro the hijacker, the film unfolds a grim story of poverty, abandonment and brutality, with one blissful and heart-breaking period of respite, before the inexorable slide into tragedy and waste.
The centrepiece is the remarkable footage of the hijacking itself, though there are excellent interviews with the hostages and police as well as social workers and friends who knew Sandro as more than just a gun waving criminal.
Despite the lengthy running time, the narrative is occasionally a little confused (and confusing), but overall this an absorbing, moving, if ultimately depressing, anatomy of an awful situation.
This review of Bus 174 (2002) was written by Dan B on 24 May 2008.
Bus 174 has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
