Omnibus (1992) User Reviews

Omnibus Has Quirky Characters, A Humorous Situation and a Delightful Ending

[sashank_kini-1 · 7/10 · 25 July 2012]

A man boards an omnibus assuming it moves to Cateau and panics when the conductor informs him it no longer does. His destination is midway and it is imperative for him to reach in time. Therefore, he begs the conductor to help him and laments about his rocky marriage, his dreadful work, his children, and his hateful in-laws – in short, his life. Taking pity on this hapless guy, the conductor takes him to the driver. After a conversation with him, the driver agrees to slow down the train so that the man would be able to jump off. This happens successfully and our hero is cheered on by the passengers. But all doesn't end well because a fellow can't contain his enthusiasm and pulls the hero back inside the compartment to congratulate him!

Omnibus will make you laugh like many other award-winning shorts because of its delightful ending. 'The man' is like many hassled men we get to see in our lives- always in a hurry, never able to take control of life. But life continues like the train, and even if you jump out of it abruptly, it pulls you back in!

My Rating: 6.8 out of 10

Some Guys Have All the Luck

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 5 April 2019]

This is one of those stories where a man has it all on the line. Through endurance, he manages to convince someone that he needs a big favor. He has taken the wrong bus and will not be able to get off at his stop. His whole life is going to go down the chute if he can't get off. What can he do? But some people just are born to be done in by chance. This is a hilarious little film.

How to get off the train?

[Horst_In_Translation · 6/10 · 29 July 2016]

"Omnibus" is a French 8-minute live action short film from 1992, so this one will have its 25th anniversary next year. It was written and directed by Sam Karmann, an Ehyptian-born filmmaker, and this was his very first work behind the camera. He is actually a really prolific actor, even today still. So it is quite ironic that his by far biggest successes came with this one here. It won an Academy Award, a BAFTA and a Palme d'Or, so basically everything you can hope for as a filmmaker. really impressive. It all may be a bit too much though. I believe this was an entertaining watch, also with the plot twist at the ending, but it was not that outstanding as you could guess from the awards recognition. This film is really 100% comedy, even the few dramatic moments are nothing serious at all. Sadly, lead actor Daniel Rialet died a very untimely death 10 years ago, but hey, at least he left us this fun movie. I recommend checking it out. Make sure you get subtitles if you aren't fluent in French.

a poor man

[Kirpianuscus · 17 January 2022]

It is a wise game with your emotions. Because you feel profound realistic entire situation, you recognize yourself in the poor man and his confusion, you feel that january 2 , 1992 in its preview days and you are tensioned about the end - could be a thief or one in big troubles ? - . So, just great.

Omnibus

[CinemaSerf · 7/10 · 17 February 2024]

Daniel Rialet is the passenger who rushes for his train in the morning only to find that's it the bright yellow express train and that not only isn't his ticket valid, but it's not going to stop until well past his destination. The ticket inspector (Jacques Martial) is sympathetic but there's nothing he can do - except expect him to buy another ticket! What about the driver, thinks the man? He heads to the cabin and manages to persuade the man to slow the train down so he can nip out at the next station. The remaining passengers on the train are on tenterhooks as they approach the station, the strain slows down, and... The last two minutes of this are really quite funny and frustrating in equal measure and it's evocative of so many commutes I made when living and working in London (though perhaps not the very last bit!). You don't need to speak French, the humour is multi-lingual and well worth ten minutes.

Haunting!

[fabulousrice · 10/10 · 20 November 2001]

This short film will haunt you. It takes you deep into the main character's life and habits, and then you realize how much you look like him, and how much this story sounds true. Then, when you begin to feel concerned about the character's ordeal, you begin to be happy for him when a solution appears... Until the end, this short film will take your breath, and when the end credits will begin to roll over the ''omnibus'' going away, you'll be horrified at what you just saw happen to that poor guy whose daily concerns are so close to yours. If this film teaches you something, it's that fate can be your worse enemy. Fate, and good will. Watch