“Directed with a fluid and deft hand by Wang Jiayi and Luo Tai, this contemporary, sometimes screwball comedy shows the work, life and love of Chinese youth today. In direct reaction to the goals of the Cultural Revolution, Bus Number 3 encourages individual initiative rather than the collective norm. And unlike the ‘model revolutionary heroes' from films of the '60s and '70s, the characters here emerge as unique individuals with common concerns, problems and comic idiosyncrasies.
“Riding down bustling urban streets aboard bus number three, two young conductors must constantly shout in order to announce their stops. One conductor, not liking the job in the first place, finds his throat hoarse and sore. He's furious and, as a result, less than courteous. The other, a young woman, is more conscientious and observant of the riders. One day the bus company receives an anonymous gift - a loudspeaker to make the conductors' work much easier. The good deed, by - we discover - a regular passenger, sets in motion a whole series of comic but socially inspired tasks - a bus washing machine, an automatic traffic light, etc.
“The music for Bus Number 3 was composed by Lei Zhenbang, who is well known for his many popular songs including those for Third Sister Liu.” --American Film Inst.