#TIFF25: “THE LOST BUS” REVIEW

By Amanda Gilmore

Director Paul Greengrass brings the events that transpired during the California Camp Fire to the big screen. Greengrass and Co-Writer Brad Ingelsby adapt Lizzie Johnson’s non-fiction book, Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire. Here, they focus on one story during that disaster. A busload of school children, their teacher Amy (America Ferrera), and the bus driver Kevin (Matthew McConaughey).

In a rush to return home to his sick son, Kevin instead accepts a call requesting help for 23 children stranded at Ponderosa Elementary School. While on the road attempting to get the children back to their parents, the disaster escalates. And they find themselves stranded in the heat of the blaze.

The Lost Bus may be a docudrama, but it’s shot like a horror/disaster film. Greengrass introduces us to the beginning of the fire with ominous music and a collapsing electric pylon that causes a cable to fall to the ground. From then on, different viewpoints from first responders and citizens show the horror exploding due to the fire becoming uncontrollable. We actually hear the decision was made to stop fighting the fire and save as many lives as they can.

Greengrass literally engulfs each frame in flames. Danger is around every corner. There is a sense of urgency throughout the runtime that is thanks to quick edits and camera work that thrusts audiences into the horrific tragedy. Especially when we are with the children on the bus. There are lots of VFX being used here. For the most part, they achieve the goal of transporting the audience into the fire. However, there are times when the visuals appear too artificial. Especially when they are shown next to actual live footage of the blaze.

The Lost Bus pays homage to the everyday heroes during the California Camp Fire. It also features indelible performances from its entire cast. Particularly, the formidable Ferrera as a level-headed teacher fighting her own instincts to show her fear, and a strong McConaughey as a man searching for redemption.

The Lost Bus screens at TIFF ’25:

Fri. Sept 5 at 9:30 PM at VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre

Sat. Sept 6 at 9:45 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Fri. Sept 12 at 8:15 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Sat. Sept 13 at 1:30 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto