Nice effects though.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

"Che si shi si" or "Bus 44" is an 11-minute short film from Hong Kong that makes a strong statement against bystander culture and passivity when somebody else becomes the victim of a crime. I must say the ending here in Dayyan Eng's little movie was maybe too brutal and shocking, not visually of course, but still. I am not sure if it is somewhat realistic. Then again I keep reading it is based on a true story, so maybe it is. Anyway, overall, this was a good watch with a great moment here and there and I enjoyed it. It is essential to have subtitles if you are not fluent in Cantonese though. I also liked the atmospheric approach that Eng gave the material here. And finally the actors were convincing too. A good effort from everybody involved. This 15-year-old movie deserves to be seen.

The driver of the bus 44 stops the bus for a young man that tries to flirt with her, but she asks him to sit down. On her next stop, two thieves get on the bus and rob the passenger. One robber takes the bus driver to the bush to rape her. The young man summons the other passengers to help the driver but nobody moves. The young man fights against one of the robbers but is stabbed on the leg. When the rapist releases the bus driver, she gets on the bus but allow the young man to get in? Why, if he was the only person that tried to help her? "Che si shi si", a.k.a. "Bus 44", is a short with a story that is a sad reality in Third World Countries: thieves robbing buses and raping of women. This short is very well acted and directed and despite the predictable conclusion, it is worthwhile watching it in Internet. My vote is nine.Title (Brazil): "Bus 44"

A young man waits for a bus by the side of the road for 2 hours. He is picked up by a full bus being driven by a young woman. As he boards the bus he tries to hit on the driver without success and eventually sits down. The next stop sees the bus boarded by two bandits who will test the character of everyone on the bus.Based on a true story – that legend makes this short all the more chilling for the fact that it may be partly true. The film looks at the bystander culture in society where we'll all stand by and not help someone who needs help. This is a warning that our lack of action may carry harsher consequences than actually trying to help.The film starts all bright and breezy and takes a dark turn that is surprisingly brutal. The bystander approach is shocking but deep down I knew that part of me (and many others) may act the same way – self preservation and all that. This element makes it more of a fable than a story and adds to it's power. The ending is pretty predictable (I bet you can guess it from reading this) but it doesn't take away from the power of the tale.The cast are all good whether the lead man and woman or the bus full of shut eyes and ears. The film looks good despite being written and made in a very short period of time in China. Overall this is powerful and gripping despite the short running time. While it may not go anywhere you don't expect it is still worth a watch and it carries a punch that will have you not only thinking but actually looking at yourself.

Saw this film at the Venice Film Festival last year and I must say it was the best short I saw at the festival. Bus 44 is an amazing film with superb acting, direction, and camera work. This gripping story is short, shocking, and to the point, not a minute too long (or short for that matter!) with a profound (and disturbing) statement of issues facing society. See it if it plays at a festival in your area. Look forward to seeing more work from this director.