Only the River Flows

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Tina H @SunnyHelianthus Jun 28, 2026 I honestly have no idea what is going on during a large portion of the movie. Some things make absolutely no sense. The protagonist breaks into random buildings, stares at random photos on a film projector, and fights with his wife to abort his child, etc. Plot points are poorly developed. It flows like a poorly written screenplay based on a large novel. Choppy. The cinematography was pretty neat. That's about all I can really say. See more Jens B @Jens97 Jul 22, 2025 "Only the River Flows" captures the eye from the very beginning: Grainy 16mm Kodak Vision3 images vividly capture the foggy, cold village atmosphere. Overall, the microcosm of characters and motifs is very elegantly staged and leaves you wanting more. It's just a shame that nothing happens story-wise. Don't get me wrong; I like slow-paced, atmospheric crime dramas. But this one really bored me at times. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 18, 2025 Failure in 1 hour and 41 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Dmitry N @RT40813500 Sep 5, 2024 The plot becomes a bit incoherent in the second half, and cinematographic allusions are perhaps overabundant, but the visuals are stunning throughout, and the characters are believable. See more patrick b @RT52522029 Sep 2, 2024 I didn't see what most others saw about this plodding film noir.First of all.this uber- genre of crime procedurals has been done to death (every pun intended) and this was a self consciously dour example of this - hence the 16mm.'effect'.Effects do not the film make although.most critics think so.It just looked cheap to.me.It was full of stereo types , the weary chain smoking detective.could have been Wallander or a dozen others, the loving home life (devoted pregnant wife/ life.v death stereotype.The lazy' who did it' madman in the village and the real clichéd Police Boss dim -witted/self satisfied and waiting to pick up his pension.It was a blatant.attempt 'art house.made ' for a western audience or orientalism The Chinese.who.as we know are brilliant at reproducing western products and selling them back to us.If you.want to see an authentic Chinese film that the CCP (Chinese Communist Party).would choke on watch.Return.to.Dust. Pb See more Read all reviews

Only the River Flows

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