Instagram/@officiallymcconaughey
Apple TV + has released a remarkable video in which Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera, and Jamie Lee Curtis play the characters of the new film “The Lost Bus”. The film is based on a true story about a school bus driver who saved his own children and all the children in the school during the catastrophic Paradise wildfire in California.
Advertisement
The trailer showcases the three stars alternating between voicing parts of the aforementioned Elizabeth Johnson’s book “Paradise,” a non-fiction piece that recounts the 2018 Camp Fire, which wiped out the town of Paradise in California. The voice of McConaughey relates to the moment of the bus driver’s decision to save the school children and leave his own family to die in the fire. Ferrera proceeds with more detail to it, portraying the conditions under which the bus was operating in a trembling manner, while Curtis concludes by talking about how the text depicts “the outset of which later turns out to be a very intense trip” that is at the center of the Apple Original Films.
The story is about a driver who, during a crises, requested a vacant bus, changed his route and volunteered to take kids from Ponderosa Elementary even though the fire was getting closer. Curtis, commenting further in the video, says that the families of the twenty-two children on the bus were left unaware for eight hours whether the bus had gone out of the fire zone. The director, Paul Hanks, uses what Curtis calls “compressed pressure” to allow McCay suffer tougher and tougher choices throughout the whole disaster.
The audience’s responses to the teaser have demonstrated strong emotional connections to the source, but also some practical concerns regarding viewing. “My mom lived in Paradise during this time” – another viewer who had already seen the movie commented emotionally and added a crying emoji to his comment to make it more powerful. Another user who watched the film praised it as “a beautiful movie and would definitely recommend it!!!!” while sharing with them his viewing experience.
Making films available to the largest audience possible was a major issue and recurring comments about it were present in the videos. “Lot of people don’t have Apple TV I’m one of them I really wish this could be on Netflix so everyone can watch this,” wrote one commenter who appeared to express a very common opinion among others, including a German…
Nevertheless, the concerns did not prevent viewers from other countries from expressing their interest, as one Portuguese-speaking user who wrote in translated English: “This movie is sensational 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 watch it!”
The viewers were extremely emotionally affected not only by the real story but also by the cinematographic adaptation. One very eloquent comment perfectly captured this sentiment: “There are not enough words for the number of feelings I had during this movie. Thank you for telling such a deeply humane tale of choices, fear, love, and life.” The person even made sure to tag the movie’s official account, the main actors, and used the hashtag #smile which indicates that, despite its disturbing subject, the story eventually conveyed an uplifting message.
The eliciting of feelings and messages was even more pronounced when some viewers requested the details of the actual event that the movie was based on. “What was the fate of the mother and son?” – a viewer commented, referring to the outlet in the narration that the bus driver made the call to move the children away from the fire instead of considering his family first. The question also indicates the ongoing public curiosity about the whole reel event and the story beyond what is captured on the screen.
Advertisement
“The Lost Bus” is yet another validation of Apple TV+’s unwavering dedication to high-quality dramatic content that is strictly based on reality for its premises and, moreover, to A-list talents both in front and behind the camera. It is one more of the films that Apple Original Films have launched into the world, with the same critical acclaim that human empowerment depicted in their storytelling and lavish production has earned them. The film, in addition to its all-star cast and high-impact emotional story of a common man’s courage in the face of a natural disaster, wants to capture the audience’s attention not only through dramatic suspense but also by the celebration of the human spirit in extreme situations. The release of the narrated reading video is indeed a smart way to guide potential viewers through the world of the ongoing source material and its cinematic adaptation, and thus the emotional journey that awaits them in the full-length film, now streaming exclusively on Apple’s platform. America Ferrera and McConaughey recently celebrated the film’s success. In a separate interview, Matthew McConaughey revealed his unusual secret for a long marriage. He also shared his life philosophy in a candid interview and has released a new book of poems and prayers.
