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La Camioneta: The Journey of One American School Bus

Play trailer 2:28 Poster for La Camioneta: The Journey of One American School Bus 2012 1h 12m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 22 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Drivers take decommissioned school buses to Guatemala, where they are repaired, repainted and reused as transportation for workers.

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La Camioneta: The Journey of One American School Bus

La Camioneta: The Journey of One American School Bus

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Critics Consensus

La Camioneta: The Journey of One American School Bus ushers viewers onto a familiar vehicle to take them on an illuminating and emotionally affecting journey.

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Critics Reviews

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Ela Bittencourt Guernica Aug 8, 2018
Kendall makes his documentary memorable by resisting the urge to give crime center stage. Instead he focuses on the lives being quietly and doggedly built, even if at a great risk. Go to Full Review
Guy Lodge Observer (UK) Dec 30, 2013
I's well worth flagging down. Go to Full Review
Michael Phillips Chicago Tribune Nov 1, 2013
3.5/4
It's well worth seeing. Go to Full Review
MaryAnn Johanson Flick Filosopher Apr 3, 2014
Follow a humble yellow school bus as it is transformed into something joyous and defiant. It's like discovering that your grandma has another life as a secret agent. Go to Full Review
Jamie S. Rich Oregonian Jan 6, 2014
3/5
"La Camioneta" is a fascinating tale of determined individuals, and witnessing the transformation of the familiar into something new and useful is inspiring. Go to Full Review
Scott Wold Paste Magazine Nov 8, 2013
9/10
La Camioneta wrings an extraordinary amount of humanity and geopolitical insight from its subject. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Jan 13, 2014 The tale of the after-life of an American school bus segues a bit awkwardly into a broader review of the danger of bus driving in Guatemala and then back again to the more specific. All good stuff, just mismatched. I also felt I was left hanging after being told in the movie that American school buses are purchased for use in Guatemala and Africa but with nothing further mentioned of Africa. I'd like to have seen, perhaps, parallel tales of two buses. See more Nov 5, 2013 What happened to those old yellow and black school buses you used to ride in? Director Mark Kendall wants to show you in this fascinating film that opens viewers to a part of Guatemala they probably never knew about. See more elias s @eliinbethesda Nov 3, 2013 Really? A documentary about a bus? Yup. And it works (the bus AND the film). It's short (71 minutes), but sweet. Mark Kendall produced, directed, photographed and edited this smartly subdued look at the yellow connection between Pennsylvania and Guatemala. The journey of an aging American school bus from auction to action, with a lot of human interest, and a brightly colored paint job, in between. The film captures to daily struggle of the 1,000 or so camioneta drivers to avoid death for failing to pay the extortion fees demanded by the local gangs. The score by Todd (billed by his first initial in the credits) Griffin showcases an incredibly talented musician. The spark plugs are firing beautifully in this fascinating documentary. See more Mar 13, 2012 'La Camioneta'. An eye-opening look into the violent, high stakes life of a bus driver in Guatemala, which is so jarringly far-flung from what you'd expect. Surprisingly philosophical too! See more Read all reviews
La Camioneta: The Journey of One American School Bus

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Movie Info

Synopsis Drivers take decommissioned school buses to Guatemala, where they are repaired, repainted and reused as transportation for workers.
Director
Mark Kendall
Producer
Rafael Gonzáles, Mark Kendall
Production Co
Follow Your Nose Films
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 20, 2017
Runtime
1h 12m
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