1990s small town China. A woman’s body washes up in the local river. The chief of police, Ma Zhe, is tasked with heading up the investigation. An obvious perp leads to a hasty arrest, though the mystery lingers in Ma Zhe’s mind. What kind of darkness is truly at play here? Director Wei Shujun’s murky throwback film noir, gritty, textured film grain captures the pulpy proceedings. Torrents of rain envelop the characters as they descend into madness in pursuit of the truth. Equal parts atmospheric tour-de-force and beguiling puzzler, Only the River Flows is a masterfully styled ode to a bygone cinematic era and a sharp-edged portrait of provincial paranoia. The film, starring Zhu Yilong, is based on Yu Hua’s popular short novel Mistakes by the River.
Only The River Flows
Only The River Flows
A film by Wei Shujun
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DVD
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Digital
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About the Director
Wei Shujun was born in 1991 in Beijing, China. He started his career as an actor at 14 year old. He completed his master degree at the Communication University of China. His films include On the Border (short, 2018, Special Jury Award at Cannes Film Festival), Striding into the Wind (2020, Official Selection Cannes Film Festival) and Ripples of Life (2021, Directors’ Fortnight, Cannes).
Filmography
2023 Only the River Flows–Feature Film (UnCertain Regard,76th Cannes Film Festival, Fei Mu prize for best Chinese film Pingyao Film Festival.)
2021 Ripples of Life–Feature Film (Directors’ Fortnight, 74th Cannes Film Festival 2021)
2020 Striding into the Wind–Feature Film (Official Selection, 73rd Cannes Film Festival, Feimu Awards Best Actor, Pingyao Film Festival.
2018 On the Border–Short Film (Special Jury Award, 71st Cannes Film Festival)
Cast and Crew
CREW
Director: Wei Shujun
Scriptwriters: Kang Chunlei, Wei Shujun
Director of Photography: Chengma
Director of Sound: Tu Duu-Chih, Tu Tse-Kang
Production Designer: Zhang Menglun
Costume Designer: Su Chao
Editor: Mattieu Laclau
Chief Colorist: David Rivero
Production: KXKH Film
Executive Producers: Tang Xiaohui, Dorothy Zeng, Li Chan
Producers: Tang Xiaohui, Huang Xufeng, Li Chan, Shen Yang
Co-producers: Wang Chenlin, Liang Ying
Associate Producer: Zheng Bin, Zhao Jin CAST
CAST
ZHU Yilong: MA Zhe
Chloe MAAYAN: BAI Jie
HOU Tianlai: Chief of Police
TONG Linkai: Xie
Film Info
Year: 2023
Country: China
Runtime: 101 min
Color: Color
Language: Mandarin
Subtitles: English
Sound: 5.1
Awards and Festivals
Cannes Film Festival: Un Certain Regard
Jerusalem Film Festival: International Competition
New Zealand International Film Festival
Vancouver International Film Festival: Panorama
Busan International Film Festival: A Window on Asian Cinema
BFI London Film Festival
Pingyao International Film Festival
Chicago International Film Festival
Newport Beach Film Fest: International Spotlights
Vienna International Film Festival
São Paulo International Film Festival: International Perspective
Stockholm International Film Festival: Competition
QCinema International Film Festival
Tokyo Filmex 2023
