Das Bus
Das Bus — Film Threat Review Film Threat's 2004 review of Das Bus by Dr. Benjamin Meade describes it as an experimental documentary that blends real interviews with bus drivers and riders with staged re-enactments, musical interludes, rotoscope animation, and even twin bus riders- Director Meade rode Kansas City bus routes with a camera, capturing both the mundane and the mythic aspects of public transportation culture. The film starts like a straightforward doc, with drivers and riders introducing themselves and telling stories — often humorous — but quickly veers into creative territory. One standout anecdote involves a driver named "Wild Bill" who pretends to be blind to prank riders, and another about a driver using her belt as a tourniquet on a passenger's arm. These tales are re-enacted by the real people involved, adding a layer of performance and satire. Das Bus is "absolute blast", likening the experience of riding the bus to Twin Peaks — mysterious, unpredictable, and full of characters you might want to avoid. The review notes that while some stories may be urban myths, they're presented with the same verisimilitude as real events, making the film both entertaining and thought-provoking. Later, in 2005, Film Threat also reported that the Sundance Channel aired the film starting March 1, 2005, continuing its reputation as a quirky, engaging piece of public transit-themed cinema. In short: Das Bus is a mix of documentary realism and absurdist performance, using bus culture as a lens to explore community, myth, and the human side of public transportation. With guest appearances by crime novelist JAMES ELLROY (L A Confidential, Black Dalia), RAP STAR TECH N9NE, and Oscar Winner KEVIN WILLMOTT (BLACKkKLANSMAN).
- 2003
- 1 Hr 34 Mins
- Comedy, Documentary
Das Bus — Film Threat Review Film Threat's 2004 review of Das Bus by Dr. Benjamin Meade describes it as an experimental documentary that blends real interviews with bus drivers and riders with staged re-enactments, musical interludes, rotoscope animation, and even twin bus riders- Director Meade rode Kansas City bus routes with a camera, capturing both the mundane and the mythic aspects of public transportation culture. The film starts like a straightforward doc, with drivers and riders introducing themselves and telling stories — often humorous — but quickly veers into creative territory. One standout anecdote involves a driver named "Wild Bill" who pretends to be blind to prank riders, and another about a driver using her belt as a tourniquet on a passenger's arm. These tales are re-enacted by the real people involved, adding a layer of performance and satire. Das Bus is "absolute blast", likening the experience of riding the bus to Twin Peaks — mysterious, unpredictable, and full of characters you might want to avoid. The review notes that while some stories may be urban myths, they're presented with the same verisimilitude as real events, making the film both entertaining and thought-provoking. Later, in 2005, Film Threat also reported that the Sundance Channel aired the film starting March 1, 2005, continuing its reputation as a quirky, engaging piece of public transit-themed cinema. In short: Das Bus is a mix of documentary realism and absurdist performance, using bus culture as a lens to explore community, myth, and the human side of public transportation. With guest appearances by crime novelist JAMES ELLROY (L A Confidential, Black Dalia), RAP STAR TECH N9NE, and Oscar Winner KEVIN WILLMOTT (BLACKkKLANSMAN).
