Due to Chinese cinema’s limited reach in Finland, few are aware that the country also produces dark crime films, film noirs at a high quality level, as demonstrated by Only the River Flows, directed by Wei Shujun, who has quickly established his Cannes credentials.
The setting is the 1990s (probably not by chance). A small rural town by the river. December. It’s pouring down rain (as it should be). Police chief Ma Zhe is investigating a case about a serial killer. The arrest seems straightforward, but is the case really that simple? Cover-ups and secrets await for a resolver. Ma Zhe also faces challenges at home, as his wife’s pregnancy is not without complications.
Only the River Flows follows in the footsteps of classic noirs. This is emphasised by the gritty camera work captured on 16mm film and the dark tone that reflects the atmosphere of China between the events of Tiananmen Square and the current economic boom. More essential than the crime plot is the portrayal of the characters and the society, like the effects of the one-child policy on Ma Zhen and his wife’s relationship. Still, the film doesn’t forget about black humour. Nor emptying movie theatres!
Timo Malmi