Only the River Flows (2023)

Who is the real madman?

I’m unsure where to start, so I’ll begin with the most striking feature—the cinematography. It was visually impressive, evoking a nostalgic, old-film feel, which I assume was the intended effect. No surprises there, though I did wish for a bit more clarity, perhaps because I wanted a clearer view of Zhu Yi Long’s handsome face.

The lack of music was another effective choice, heightening the tension and enhancing the suspenseful atmosphere of the film.
The performances of all the actors were good, completely immersed in realism.

I also appreciated the timing of the story, set between the monsoon season and the onset of winter. The rain, combined with the crime, created a rich and atmospheric tone that worked well.

Regarding the main plot: I’d set aside the obvious elements, like the murders and investigation, and focus on where the story takes a more surreal turn. To me, the protagonist is disturbed by how everything falls into place so perfectly, and we, as viewers, share in that discomfort. While the simplest explanation might be the right one, the protagonist struggles to accept it.

He seems overwhelmed and stressed, especially with the pressure of expecting a child who might have a genetic disorder. His downward spiral appears to start after his superior questioned him about a Grade 3 Merit Certificate, which he thought he had already earned, but only receives after solving the case.

The film's issue lies in its synopsis—"he unravels dark secrets of the villagers"—because these secrets aren’t truly dark. Affairs and cross-dressing are secrets, but they aren’t life-altering or sinister. There is, however, one "dark secret"—the protagonist’s certificate and the puzzle pieces he flushed down the toilet. Clearly, something is wrong with him. The film awkwardly hints at a past event, suggesting his mind has tried to bury that memory. At least, that’s my interpretation.

As I mentioned earlier, his decline seems to begin with the murder, the certificate, and the pregnancy, and it seems to halt (hopefully) with the murder solved, the certificate obtained, and the healthy birth of the baby.

Ultimately, I suppose what matters is that everything ends up okay for the protagonist... Nothing really new but at the same time not a bad one either.

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Artsy and unfathomable Chinese thriller - will leave you pondering

This Chinese thriller is centered around Detective Ma Zhe as he investigates a series of murders that happened in a rural area nearby a river in 1995. It is not a typical "Who's done it?" mystery as it focus much more on psychological aspects (with some quite crazy / feverish scenes) and an unreliable narrator... The spectator is left to ponder about the resolution of the mystery. I'm unsure if I enjoyed the film or if I am more perplexed by how to interpret it. I also think pacing could have been better.

Acting was good. Especially the performance of Zhu Yi Long who brought a lot of gravitas to his role. I personally enjoyed as well the actor playing the sidekick of our main detective. His role was a much needed relief to the overall pressure felt by the main character in his resolve to find out the truth.

Filmmaking is properly impressive as it clearly makes the viewer feel that the movie is shoot in the 1990s. The dark colors, the gloomy atmosphere of the story under a lot of rain contribute tremendously to the heaviness and almost thickness of the unfathomable plot. The background music with a lot of classical tunes has a melancholic vibe properly fitting the story.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a thriller supported by good filmmaking and acting. It features rural China in the 1990s and is quite dark with the scenario deeply rooted in exploring the darkest aspects of people in small town. If you enjoyed series like "Mare of Easttown", you will likely enjoy it. However, there is a part of frustration bounded to the resolution of the mystery as it left a lot to the viewer's interpretation.

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