Jose Padilha's documentary "Bus 174" recounts the terrifying events of Sandro, a "street kid," who takes a public bus hostage in the middle of downtown Rio. Bothced by the police, the media and spectators consume the scene resulting in chaos witnessed live by 35 million people. "Bus 174" belongs among the most effective breed of documentaries. Padilha skillfully weilds the tools available to him to paint a thourough portrait of the conflict and it's participants. He covers all angles and points no fingers. The film intercuts the frightently vivid images on the bus with achrives from Sandro's troubled past. You would think a boy homeless from age six would not yield a well documented history. However, we learn about him from fellow street kids, distant relatives and well documented prison stints. This reveals a life relentlessly brushed aside by society. He, along with his companions, live a hopeless existence. With no system, or publice desire for one, that might help them reenter the "civilized" world. We come to realize that there never was any hope for Sandro. Both narratives gain momentum as the futility of both situations, past and present, becomes evident. When we arrive at the devastating climax we have a complete understanding of what got us here. Bus 174 gives a maddening portrait of Rio. A system where, in this film, everyone loses. Often when venturing into social commentary documentaries often resort to hand-holding when the going gets significant. Padilha shows considerable restraint. He never comments he merely presents. "Bus 174" is an intense and incendiary look at a society where the bureaucracy seems to have lost touch with it's people. While this would most likely be handled more effectively in the US. The kind of media frenzy it caused evokes OJ in the Bronco or Paris going to jail. So I guess we shouldn't talk.