Red, White and Zero

source: Red, White and Zero

The White Bus

The short film, The White Bus, wanted to be an odd film instead turned into a tourist film. Honestly not much happens in the film. I have seen short films with better story lines and character development than the White Bus. Though it was beautifully filmed. If you are interested to see a film about Britain in the late 1960's then this film is for you.

The White Bus (a.k.a. Red, White and Zero) is a movie geared for adults. It deals with depressed thoughts. I found the film basically pointless and aimless and a waste of time to watch. The film is basically a black and white film with flashes of colorization for a few seconds and then black and white again. This happened several times throughout the movie. I found no purpose in this. Also, in the beginning, it seems that editing did not do its work well. There is a scene with the star hanging in her office for a few moments and was very disjointed. Don't waste your time with this film. There are many other better films to watch -- try attack of the killer tomatoes -- at least it's so stupid it's almost funny.

I can't believe people liked this. This was obviously made by some young person who hates society. Sadly this ass clown probably grew up to be some politician who is running things now. Idiots.

Odd little movie in which some girl rides around on a tour bus. Nothing really happens. Some of the people here talk about wonderful performances, but really, there's the occasional brief conversation and a lot of touring. There are some cute moments, like some odd character going on about class distinctions, but mainly this just seems to have no point to it at all. Yet for some reason it has a lot of favorable reviews. And the only thing I can think of is that there are British people who recognize some of the sites and the sorts of people and it takes them back to that time or gives them that feeling of connection. But I've never been to England and to me this was just a huge waste of time.

Cute, whacky and beautifully shot surrealistic short from Lindsay Anderson which clearly foreshadows if.... which followed a year later (plus O Lucky Man and Brittania Hospital too). The same cinematographer as on if.... plus the mix of black and white and colour shots. Some key music sound cues from if... feature here for the first time plus the reading of the proverbs quote "wisdom is the principal thing..." which opens if.... There's also a bit of M Hulot's theme from Mon Oncle mixed in there plus some classic Tati-esque visual humor. I guess Mr Anderson had a whole lot of stuff already brewing that would come flowing out in force a little later. Criterion definitely missed a trick not including this on the if.... DVD/Bluray - a little more relevant than the Oscar winning short about the deaf kids I'd say. All in all a charming, strange and chuckly way to spend forty minutes.

A strange, moody, yet captivating film that captures the atmosphere at a certain time in Britain. I love the images of the terrace houses, the back alleyways and bombed out areas. I grew up just off Holderness Road in Hull and the images gave me a flashback to that time. The air is heavy with coal smoke, the roads have few cars and kids are playing in the streets, whilst the people all look gray like in a Lowry painting. The silent parts are the best as the images speak for themselves. The humour is nicely understated. My particular favorite is the scene with the lift and the security guard. I not sure what messages the film is seeking to convey, but as an observation piece it is superb.

Interesting 47 minute short from a Shelagh Delaney short story. A girl quits her dull job, and goes on a surrealistic bus tour of a dilapidated Manchester. Along for the ride are a strange mix, including a lascivious vicar, lord mayor (Arthur Lowe, always great), etc. Many of the techniques that became part of 'If' and 'O Lucky Man' first show up here.(e.g. mixing color and B+W). It also follows 'O Lucky Man' in being a surreal journey of a somewhat passive, young lead character traveling through a world where they have little power. Enigmatic, sure, but it's interesting and entertaining in a Brechtian/Anderson sort of dark humored politically satirical way. Cleary it's making fun of the pathetic nature of modern society and our desperate need to justify all the glories of 'progress that really sap our humanity. Some terrific and haunting images. Anthony Hopkins appears very briefly singing in German (?!?).