A young man develops severe neck pain after swimming in a polluted river; his dysfunctional parents are unable to provide any relief for him or themselves.
Tsai is so adept at pacing and mood, and so good at capturing a sense of yearning, that his film draws us in despite its unusually long takes and sparse cutting.
– Edward Guthmann,
San Francisco Chronicle,
28 Oct 2001
fresh:
The River is difficult and unpleasant at times, but as a somber metaphor for contaminated lives, it's masterful.