Over time, movie audiences have been treated with multitudinous films specifically made “based on a true story.” This claim often sparks interest to analogize how the film breathes life into the lead characters and recreates scenes that may seem unimaginable to many. Whether the cinematic attempt lends credence to the real story or not, the obligation rests solely on the ingenious approach of the director and writer to ensure that the thin line between fiction and truth is well defined.
Matthew McConaughey’s latest documentary drama film, “The Lost Bus”, belongs to this true-to-life theme. A film by Oscar-nominated director Paul Greengrass, “The Lost Bus” was based on the actual story of Kevin McKay, a school bus driver who was hailed as a “hero” during the 2018 Camp Fire. This blaze was recorded as the deadliest fire in Northern California that ravaged the communities of Concow, Magalia, Butt Creek Canyon, and Paradise. The fire burned houses and buildings to the ground while 85 lives were tragically lost.
McKay is portrayed by Academy award winner Matthew McConaughey, with America Ferrera as the teacher Mary Ludwig, Yul Vasquez as Chief Ray Martinez/John Messina, Ashlie Atkinson as Ruby Hartwig, Matthew’s real mother Kay McCabe McConaughey as Matthew’s mother Sherry, and Matthew’s real son Levi McConaughey portrayed the role of his son, Shaun.
As depicted in the film, Kevin McKay was driving bus #963 when he received an emergency call from dispatch to pick up stranded students. He was done with his shift and was supposed to rush home to attend to his son’s and mother’s needs. Being the only bus driver available to respond to this call, McKay’s personal decision summoned a bigger and more critical responsibility to fulfill. Alone, he steered the treacherous burning paths towards Ponderosa Elementary School in order to save the 22 school children and the teacher. He then attempted to drive against the fury of the flames head on while transporting them to a safer ground.
With the real story, there were two teachers present at Ponderosa Elementary who went with McKay and the children. Since one opted not to be included in the film, only one teacher was portrayed.
While the whole county scrambled to save as many residents as humanly possible, McKay took the risk of traversing 30 dangerous miles amidst pandemonium, chaos, and tension. He dealt with gridlocked traffic, heavy plumes of smoke, and perilous flames for five hours in order to bring his passengers safely to Chico. Halfway while dealing with terrifying uncertainty, McKay lost radio contact with dispatch and rescuers. What happens next were series of ominous scenes cautiously stacked in order to establish the unsettling trepidation about the fate of McKay and his passengers.
Wildfire movies are often expected to mount the hellish and blazing cinematography in order to provide a gut-wrenching experience for the viewers. So far, the closest film that is comparable to “The Lost Bus” is “Only the Brave.” Also based on a true story, “Only the Brave” was about the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a group of 19 elite firefighters from Prescott, Arizona who perished during the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire. Led by Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, and Jennifer Connelly, this heartbreaking film underscored the dangerous lives of firefighters that even their camaraderie and brotherhood could not derail nature’s blazing fury.
The difference between “The Lost Bus” and “Only the Brave” lies on their lead characters and the outcome of their acts of bravery. In “The Lost Bus”, Kevin McKay was not a firefighter but a bus driver who was caught in the moment and had to make a random decision to risk his own life in order to save the children. In “Only the Brave”, the people regarded as heroes were real firefighters who were trained, prepared, and expected to deal with this kind of situation, putting their lives in harm’s way in order to save their community.
With the raging flames in full view, sentiments ran high among the victims. Their moments of survival linked up with the desire to save what is left of their life stories. They were not just battling the fires; they were also coming to grips with their own fieriness to keep fighting or just letting go.
The film took the bold move of reliving the event in the most realistic and high-powered environment. Every angle allowed the viewers to be part of the film while vicariously witnessing the event. Every scene provided the audience with an empathic transportation – feeling every emotion, fear, anticipation, anxiety, panic, and heat. It was a synchronous impact that was well executed throughout the movie.
Greengrass admitted that “The Lost Bus” did not tackle the cause of the fire. According to him, the film was not about PG&E but “their failure to maintain the infrastructure…”.
According to the investigation, it was concluded that Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) started the fire. PG&E CEO and president Bill Johnson pled guilty and admitted in court that their “equipment started that fire.” Aside from paying the maximum fine of $3.5 million, PG&E also settled $25.5 billion for the 85 victims and their families.
The real Kevin McKay, Mary Ludwig, Ruby Hartwig, John Messina, and Shaun McKay personally attended the premiere presentation of “The Lost Bus” at TIFF50 together with the cast and crew. Jamie Lee Curtis, producer of “The Lost Bus”, perfectly summed up the lessons learned both in real life and on the big screen: …” life hinges on a couple of seconds you never see coming. And what you decide in those few seconds determines everything from then on… and you have no idea what you’ll do until you’re there…” ####