Western critics compared Na Jiazuo to Carlos Reygadas. Eastern critics saw echoes of the Chinese "Sixth Generation" directors, who focused on realism and social decay. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a niche but enthusiastic 92% approval rating, with the consensus reading: "A slow, punishing, but ultimately rewarding meditation on fathers, sons, and the mess we leave behind."
Because the father refuses to talk, the son internalizes the blame. He believes he is cursed. He believes he is the reason the family is falling apart. The River -2018 Film- crucially never resolves this pain neatly. There is no hug at the end. There is only the sound of water flowing. The River -2018 Film-
A documentary narrated by Willem Dafoe about the relationship between humans and Earth's waterways. River (2023): A Japanese sci-fi comedy involving a two-minute time loop. or a deeper look into the symbolism of technology in this specific film? The River (2018) - IMDb Western critics compared Na Jiazuo to Carlos Reygadas
This Bolivian drama explores themes of toxic masculinity, family secrets, and the rugged beauty of the Amazon basin. He believes he is cursed