POPCORN REVIEWSS

Loosely based on a true incident that took place against the backdrop of a real-life natural disaster in 2018 in the form of the Campfires in California, the politics in The Lost Bus is reduced to the background here. Written by Brad Ingelsby and Paul Greengrass, you are faintly acquainted with the politics of the drama related to the increase in capitalism in the region. In a fleeting but crucial scene, you witness a character blaming the corruption around the purchase of faulty equipments from the utility company Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) that ignited the fire. Ofcourse, the actual cause extends its commentary to the ever-changing climate issues that finds itself intertwined across various social issues across the globe, even though very little is being done to preserve it. In other words, this ‘natural’ disaster did occur due to a variety of reasons, even as the drama here shifts focus to a survival thriller from the second act of the film.

The stakes in the drama are tactfully raised with the introduction of some key characters in the drama. Yes, the events around Kevin’s life seem melodramatic and almost coinciding with his darkest days, given how he is distanced from his wife, his son is ignorant of his presence, his mother is aging, he hates his job and he finds himself at the right place (for a rescue op) at the worst possible time for him, personally speaking. On the other hand, you are introduced to a group of children at a school led by their teacher Mary (America Ferrera), who collectively find themselves in the heart of the disaster. In fleeting moments, you see parallel rescue ops being conducted at camping sites, even as the blazing fire is yet to be overpowered by the fire-fighters. The ambience is set for a heart-pounding thriller, and that is exactly what you get when a hesitant Kevin decides to turn to ‘Paradise’ (the location of the school), fighting his inner demons along the way.

The events are nerve-wracking even when Kevin and Mary team up to ride the children to safety. In the moment, there isn’t a class divide between the two, neither a level of hierarchy, even as the spirit of surviving takes center-stage. In many ways, the journey of Kevin and Mary is tied by fate, wherein even the latter confides in him on how her husband is away and that she has spent most of her life in the same town. They bond over the fact that both would need to head their way to ensure their own children’s safety, while having to ensure the safety of the school children at present. This, while having to endure a sense of calmness even when there is an element of panic within them.

The feeling that you get while watching this searing drama is of the walls of the room closing in on you. This is exactly how Kevin and Mary feel while having to team up – from tackling a traffic jam, to having to deal with dehydration of their children (and themselves), to being surrounded by fire, and having to fight through it. The curated scenes are enthralling, almost making you a silent spectator in the mix. But more importantly, it remains a tale of resilience and valour that allows you space to root for the characters, particularly keeping their emotional core intact. In the same breath, one could argue that the outro considerably takes you out of the tension and chaos that was created for the major chunk of the film, apart from being mildly convenient with its resolution too. But the high that you get for major chunks in the film cannot be overruled either, while almost shifting gears to the sensitive side of the tale to complete Kevin’s character arc. I had no real complaints!