Watch The River

The River is a 1997 Taiwanese drama film directed by Tsai Ming-liang. The movie follows a family living in Taipei as they deal with the daily struggles of life. The father, Hsiao-kang (Lee Kang-sheng), works as a clerk in a boring job at a travel agency, while the mother (Yi-Ching Lu) takes care of their two children, Ah-Yu and Ah-Xian. The family often quarrels over trivial matters, and their home life is overshadowed by the sound of sewage pipes.

The film is a meditation on the relationship between humans and the natural world, specifically the river that flows through the city. The river serves as a metaphor for the flow of time and the transience of life. Throughout the film, there are numerous shots of the river, sometimes serene and peaceful, sometimes dark and polluted. At times, the camera follows the river as it cascades through the city, providing a visual backdrop for the story.

The plot of The River is not straightforward, and it is not always clear what is happening or why. The movie begins with Ah-Xian going to the hospital for a mysterious ailment, and it is soon apparent that the family is grappling with some sort of illness. As the film progresses, there are instances of surrealism and dreamlike sequences, including one where Hsiao-kang has a sexual encounter with a man in a movie theater.

As the family tries to navigate their way through the challenges of everyday life, the themes of isolation, loss, and longing become increasingly prominent. The parents struggle to connect with each other and their children, while the children themselves seem to be lost in their own worlds. There is a sense of sadness that permeates the movie, and the overall mood is one of melancholy and quiet desperation.

Despite the heavy themes, there are moments of levity and humor throughout the film, particularly in scenes involving the children. Ah-Yu is a precocious and mischievous young girl who is always getting into trouble, while Ah-Xian is a sensitive boy who is constantly drawing and daydreaming. Their youthful exuberance provides a counterpoint to the gloomy atmosphere of the movie, and their innocence serves as a reminder of the beauty and wonder of life.

The performances in The River are naturalistic and understated, with Lee Kang-sheng giving a particularly subtle and nuanced portrayal of Hsiao-kang. The cinematography is also a standout feature of the film, with director Tsai Ming-liang using long takes and slow pans to capture the beauty and complexity of the urban landscape. The use of sound is also notable, with the constant hum of the city providing a sonic backdrop for the film.

In conclusion, The River is a challenging and thought-provoking movie that explores the complex and often fraught relationships between people and their environment. It is a movie that rewards repeated viewings, as the layers of meaning and symbolism become more apparent with each watch. The River is a testament to the power of cinema to capture the essence of life, and it is a must-see for anyone interested in exploring the depths of the human condition.

The River is a 1997 romance movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 55 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 55.