Cannes-selected crime mystery set in 1990s Banpo Town, rural China, where a woman’s body is found by the river. Ma Zhe,...
Cannes-selected crime mystery set in 1990s Banpo Town, rural China, where a woman’s body is found by the river. Ma Zhe, Chief of the Criminal Police, heads up the murder investigation that leads to an obvious arrest. His superiors hurry to congratulate him, but several clues push Ma Zhe to delve deeper into the hidden behaviour of his fellow citizens.
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Where to watch Only the River Flows
Enigmatic
In the moment, the film’s noir-tinged brooding-detective-hunting-serial-killer tropes felt both distractingly familiar and naggingly impenetrable, but its murky, enigmatic atmosphere and grungy textures—from the provincial riverside locale in states of abandonment and decay to the relentless blasts of torrential rain—has grown significantly in memory.
85 %39 reviewsRotten Tomatoes® rating
53 %17 reviewsAudience score rating
"Chinese neo-noir makes a triumphant comeback with Wei Shujun’s dazzling murder mystery."
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South China Morning Post
South China Morning Post"Chinese cinema makes a sophisticated and stylish return with Wei Shujun’s nimble noir."
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Screen Daily
Screen Daily"Gradually finds its focus as the story progresses, leaving the viewer staring into the same abyss the detective does..."
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Hollywood Reporter
Hollywood ReporterOnly the River Flows | Details
- Rating
- 15, strong bloody images. violence
- Runtime
- 102
- Genre
- Drama, Thriller
- Country of origin
- China
