Some of the worst disasters in recent history have been difficult to recognize and identify as they’re happening, while the degree of severity is enormously clear only when looking back after the fact. One such incident is the Camp Fire, which broke out on November 8th, 2018 in Northern California and was the deadliest fire in the state’s history. The Lost Bus soberly revisits the moments of tranquility before it began to burn and the bravery of two adults who saw a group of children in harm’s way and fought to protect them, even as they had no idea of the intensity and scope of what was happening around them.
On the morning of November 8th, Kevin McKay (Matthew McConaughey) isn’t having a great day. Things at home with his ailing mother and his distant son have him distracted, and his boss at the bus depot, Ruby (Ashlie Atkinson), is hounding him to be more reliable if he wants more work. After he receives a phone call that his son is sick and needs medicine, a detour results in him being the closest bus driver to a school where Mary Ludwig (America Ferrera) waits with a group of students whose parents aren’t able to pick them up as what initially appears to be a small fire soon engulfs the entire area.
This film, which is based on the true story not only of the fire but also of McKay and Ludwig’s actions, has twin narratives it follows. McKay is the protagonist for much of the film’s first half before he’s united with Ludwig and the children and they travel a very treacherous journey through flames to reach a safe destination together. At the same time, fire chief Ray Martinez (Yul Vazquez) arrives to assess the first signs of fire and gradually pieces together its size and strength, working tirelessly with other teams to first combat it and then eventually decide to focus merely on evacuating and saving lives. Those scenes, which offer a slight respite from the dark, bright-orange haze of the slow-traveling bus, offer helpful context to understand just what it is that they are facing.
There’s a sensitivity required when adapting real-life events like this, particularly given the fires that engulfed and destroyed areas in Los Angeles earlier this year. Fortunately, director Paul Greengrass has plenty of experience with that approach, which he utilized very effectively with the Oscar-nominated films United 93 and Captain Phillips. This project is a perfect fit for him, and the most intense and emotional moments feel respectful and not overplayed, emphasizing the humanity and legitimate fear of the people forced to make difficult decisions without knowing how things will turn out or if they’ll face even greater danger around the next corner.
While McConaughey and Ferrera rose to prominence for showier roles with considerably more enthusiasm than these parts, they’re well-suited to play them. McConaughey portrays McKay as a hard-working father trying to make ends meet who doesn’t always show his best side, but is capable of keeping his head down to get a job done, even if it’s not exactly how he’s supposed to be doing it. Ferrera complements him well with a slightly more urgent energy directly towards McKay but masked completely as optimistic support for the children. The visual recreation of the fire and its rapid spread is quite compelling and terrifying, making it feel all too real. Viewer discretion is definitely advised for those who have been through similar natural disasters since it will surely bring up difficult memories in its claustrophobic, compelling tribute to a heroic rescue amid a true force of nature.
Movie Rating: 7/10
