Johan van Huyssteen By a large margin, my favourite film of all time. First of all. It is comparable to Tsai's debut film, Rebels of a Neon God, in how it tackles the ironic theme of alienation in a mega-cities. The tension created by knowing that the boy has healthy sexual encounters with pretty girls, followed by what happens later, is almost unbearable to watch.The link between his family strife and abuse and his neck pain is one of the most powerful metaphors ever seen in cinema. Tsai Ming-Liang has created an entirely new language of film-making here. Gone are the traditional 3act/ 5 act structure. His tragic fall from normality to submissive, silenced victim is unparalleled in modern cinema. There is only one Tsai Ming-Liang and there is only one 'The River'. Bravo!

Tahwan I saw the rating here, so I watched the movie. Well, I don't understand the rating. I read some reviews here, I still don't understand. Of course, some scenes are very well shot, acting is good and so on. But a story with no development, (almost) no dialogues, no surprises just can't be a good story. And movie without a (good) story can't be a good movie. To watch a boring life on screen is even more boring than living a boring life.So it's just boring and weird... despite the interesting idea, good acting and directing. Which is sad, since the movie had huge potential!But I can imagine there are quite some people out, who like this movie... But you need a really special taste.

leo's Videos I will never understand why people think crappy foreign films like this one are so great. Seriously if this were an American film nobody would watch it but for some reason unbenonst to me it has a very high rating. Now don't get me wrong I do really like foreign flicks but they have to be good to get me to like them.The acting was not bad at all the script was flat but not unrealistic the plot? not to exiting (and I love slow drab films) basically I think the director did not shine in this one and as great as his other films are supoed to be I hear this is his big classic. I doubt I will watch another of his.

chrishend Oh, the horror of it all. The ennui. The angst. The isolation. Must drink ... double shot ... of ... espresso ...Interesting themes, but a borderline unwatchable movie. This thing makes an Antonioni film look like "Indiana Jones". The use of real-time filming (or whatever technique the film school flunkies are calling it) is interesting in spurts, but it was just plain cruel and unusual punishment here. I get the feeling that the individuals who loved this movie are the same ones who would declare a two hour movie of someone peeing pure genius. Thankfully ming-liang had the decency to keep his pure peeing scene to only 4 minutes. I was rivetted wondering how the sound of it would change as we proceeded from the second, to the third, to the fourth minute. Enthralling filmaking.If you enjoy watching paint dry I give this movie my highest recommendation. If you expect even a hint of entertainment value in your films I give it a 3/10.