Bus 174

On 12^th June 2000, a man gets on bus in Rio de Janeiro, bungles the robbery he planned on the occupants, and takes them hostage.

This is a fascinating and disturbing film to watch. As the hostage situation develops, the background of the robber unfolds: a former "invisible" street child turned petty criminal; witnessing his mother being murdered; years in, and escapes from, hellish jails; surviving a massacre in which six of his friends were killed (of the 60 who survived, 40 were subsequently murdered or "disappeared").

The police are also shown as amazingly incompetent, even the highly trained special squad. Initially, both the public and the press are allowed to approach the bus and are still only kept a short distance away throughout the drama. The police don't have any radio equipment and have to communicate face-to-face or using hand signals. The police chief is told to keep the hostage taker alive, limiting his options. There are three negotiators, confusing the robber. As you can imagine, it doesn't end well.