Film Review: La Camioneta, by Mark Kendall, Director and Nothing like Chocolate, by Kum-Kum Bhavnani, Writer, Producer, and Director Susan Sarandon, Narrator

Abstract

Video for the ClassroomMark Kendall, DirectorLa Camioneta. Oley, PA: Bullfrog Films, 2012. 72 minutes.Kum-Kum Bhavnani, Writer, Producer, and Director Susan Sarandon, NarratorNothing like Chocolate. Oley, PA: Bullfrog Films, 2012. 68 minutes.The American school bus is a rite of passage for most American school children. From kindergarteners to high schoolers, who has not ridden that bright yellow transport from home to school and back again? It is also a form of passage for some people outside the United States these days. The only difference: buses that start out new in America end up making their way as camionetas (Spanish for a light truck or van) to places like Guatemala once they are worn out and deemed useless to U.S. local school districts.La Camioneta is a documentary film that follows a decommissioned American school bus as it is auctioned offafter it is no longer economical or safe to drive in the United States. Even though it is not good enough to carry America's children, it will be put back on the road in Guatemala after it has been refurbished, repainted, and rebirthed as a brightly colored camioneta, one of many that transport the vast majority of Guatemalans to work each day. But there is more to this story than prepping an old school bus for a new purpose. It is also the centerpiece of organized crime in Guatemala.There are two versions of La Camioneta, fifty-two and seventy-two minutes. This review is based on the seventy-two-minute version.Nearly three camioneta drivers or fare-collectors are murdered each week in Guatemala by gangs who prey on and rob them. Those hard-working, independent operators who do not cooperate face the consequences, which often translate to death in the streets. Being a bus driver may be the most dangerous job in Guatemala.La Camioneta follows one bus on its journey south. Along the way we are introduced to several key characters who advance the storyline in their own words. The film is primarily presented in Spanish with English subtitles and is well delivered and presented mostly in a chronological order that is easy to follow and very engaging. The film drags a bit about a third of the way in, with a bit too much time spent showing how the bus is transformed into the style more typical in Guatemala.Most information about this film in advance of a screening would lead one to believe it is about worn-out American school buses and how dangerous it is to be a driver. The first part is certainly true, but the filmmaker hardly takes a ride on a bus himself. The film fails to deliver on the most interesting aspect of this story: what it is like to have this job. The question is not totally avoided, but if there is a major flaw with this film, that would be it. The film does not address the dangerous aspect of being an owner, driver, or passenger on a camioneta.One other key element this film lacks is answering the question of why, if these buses are deemed useless in America, can they still be used for public transport in a developing country like Guatemala? On the surface, the bus in the story looks fine, with little need for cosmetic or mechanical repair, but there is no mention of how many miles are on it or how many trips it will make in Guatemala before finally heading to the scrap yard.The production standards on La Camioneta are high. The film is well crafted, the story is interesting, and it is easy to stay engaged with the subject, even with subtitles. The music presents the right reinforcement at the right moments, and colorful, creative transitions add a nice layer to the production.La Camioneta is an interesting and thought-provoking documentary. It would be a good film to show in journalism, documentary, or international studies courses. With a fifty-two-minute version of the film, it could easily fit into many standard class periods. And the film would benefit a broad audience as it covers everything from ethics and business to poverty and crime through an engaging story. …