It’s been four days since BendFilm wrapped up, but there’s been one film that’s been sticking with me since. The film is called Blue Bus, and well, I can’t stop thinking about it. I figured maybe writing about it would shake it free.
The story is that of two men traveling from Los Angeles to New Orleans in a 1968 Volkswagen bus, as mandated by a recently deceased friend, who in addition to gifting the bus, has also provided the men with a box they’re instructed not to open until reaching the Crescent City. What ensues is a cross-country romp that relies almost solely on the back-and-forth between the two men. Ron Recasner, who plays Auggie, dishes out one incredible story (many of them actual tales of the actor’s own experiences) after another and laughing along through the film is director Phil Scarpaci, who proves delightfully hilarious in the role of Joseph, a seemingly successful businessman.
We see this story through a largely grainy, documentary-style view that provides a strangely unique cinematic perspective. You know this isn’t a documentary, because, well, the festival schedule said so, but the interaction between Auggie and Joseph is so authentic and their emotions so real that the line between narrative and reality melts away about halfway through.
Walking out of the film, there was a lot going through my head, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how incredible friendships can be. Sappy? Slightly…or incredibly so, but the film really gets you in the heart and in the gut. And you laugh, too. That’s always important. When I met Recasner and Scarpaci outside the bar on Saturday night, they weren’t the men from the film – but still pretty damn nice guys who didn’t mind talking about their film for a few minutes.
I’m not sure where you can see the film, but check out the Blue Bus website for the trailer.
This article appears in Oct 15-21, 2009.
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i am very glad you enjoyed it so much. i tapped out about 1/2 way through for various reasons. without going into them all the main two were the little cameras they used in the front of the bus (really bothered me, the blurriness and poor audio) and, more importantly, the directors character seemed to just tap out. i know he was not supposed to be emotionally available to his fellow costar, but he almost became prop like. ron would just bring it on and put out a couple of rock solid scenes, and phil just sat there. i would have really liked to see him respond to his friend, even if just to explain why he could not even give him a hug during a big emotional scene. it got particularly bad at the end from the doorstep on. he just did not seem interested in rons pain. he just kept repeating rons words and looking away and at the ground, the sky. it didnt convey anything that seemed genuine to me.
i really with i could have enjoyed it more but i am stuck with these in the worst way. i do think it could make a wonderful play with the right actors. seemed more like that kind of material since they really didnt interact with hardly anyone in the film. kudos to them for a completed project on a short timeline. always an accomplishment in that sense.
I really enjoyed the old hippie film, though I think I may have slept with one of those chicks.