Only the River Flows

"Like the investigation itself, the meaning of 'Only the River Flows' gradually finds its focus as the story progresses, leaving the viewer staring into the same abyss the detective does" 

"The craft brought to bear on Only the River Flows is captivating, but when it comes to matters of story, it cultivates a frustrating air of disinterest (...) Rating: ★★½ (out of 4)" 

"A witty, convoluted China-noir" 

"Better as a portrait of a small river town and its denizens’ idiosyncratic secrets, the pieces of the jigsaw aren’t meant to fit together" 

"The movie seems to lose its grip not merely on the mystery but on its protagonist, becoming less psychologically penetrating and more haphazardly hallucinatory" 

"Shujun has built a compelling, evocative mystery that maintains its enigmatic, unfinished feeling even after the higher-ups have closed the case and patted themselves on the back. And he doesn’t let his troubled investigator veer into cliche" 

"Filmed on scratchy 16mm and with cinematographer Chengma Zhiyuan’s terrific lighting throwing shadows over its shady ensemble, it’s a great-looking noir too (...) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"