Only the River Flows

Only the River Flows is a 2023 Chinese neo-noir art film directed by Wei Shujun, who co-wrote the screenplay with Kang Chunlei based on Yu Hua's short novel Mistakes by the River. The film, stars Zhu Yilong, as a police chief investigating a series of murders in a riverside town in rural China in the 1990s.

The film was selected to compete in the Un Certain Regard section of the 76th Cannes Film Festival. And was released theatrically in China on October 21, 2023. As of November 7, the total box office of the film is 301 million RMB, placing it among China's highest-grossing independent films.

Premise
A police chief, Ma Zhe, investigates a series of murders in a riverside town in rural China in the 1990s. Though an arrest is made quickly, clues push the policeman to delve deeper into the hidden behaviour of the locals and piece together the truth.

Cast

 * Zhu Yilong as Ma Zhe
 * Chloe Maayan as Bai Jie
 * Hou Tianlai as the Chief of Police
 * Tong Linkai as Xie

Production
Just before principal photography, the COVID-19 pandemic in China was surging again, the entire cast and crew was put on lockdown. The team had around 45 days of preparation and approximately 45 days of shooting, and had to pause for two days when Wei Shujun and Zhu Yilong tested positive.

Principal photography began in Nanfeng, Jiangxi, on 19 December 2022, and wrapped in early February 2023. "The film was shot mostly in chronological order as same as in the script".

Zhu Yilong gained weight during the preparation to give the character a heavyset appearance from overwork, and he then lost 55 pounds during the 45 days of shooting as the shooting went on.

Almost the entire film was shot on 16 mm film.

World premiere
The film was selected to compete in the Un Certain Regard section of the 76th Cannes Film Festival, where it premiered on May 20, 2023.

Theatrical release
The film has been licensed for theatrical and home release in Northern America by KimStim and in the United Kingdom and Ireland by Picturehouse Entertainment.

Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Only the River Flows holds an approval rating of 89%.

Screen Daily stated "while ostensibly a noir, is a reminder of the alternative narrative perspectives and cinematic sophistication that have moved cinema forward in the past. Production design is pleasing and the cinematography is genuinely star-making". The Hollywood Reporter stated "Shame and secrecy seem to be the guiding principles at a time, and in a place, where obedience counted most, and Wei keenly observes how adhering to social norms could drive some people over the edge. Even if Ma Zhe winds up catching the killer, or at least the guy he believes the killer to be, it's a bitter victory, a source of private anguish despite his public triumph." Asia Movie Pulse stated "particularly the friction rising from the fact that their upcoming child will be born with a disorder. Ma Zhe repeatedly states that they are supposed to abort it, but his wife insists that 'her body, her decision', in a comment that echoes quite intently even today, but even more in the one-child policy in 90's China. The way this issue and the way the case unfolds shed light to the protagonist's character is probably the most appealing aspect of the movie." AwardsWatch also reviewed in favor on performance and cinematography after BFI London Film Festival by stating "Yilong gives a subtly excellent performance backed by an all-convincing ensemble that brings to life Shujun's murky, yet refined vision." "The beautifully dark look of Chengma Zhiyuan's 16mm cinematography gives the film a non-contemporary feel."