The River (1997 Film)

The River (Chinese: 河流; pinyin: Héliú) is a 1997 Taiwanese drama film directed by Tsai Ming-liang. The narrative centers on the strained relationships within a dysfunctional family residing in Taipei. The film stars Lee Kang-sheng as Xiao-kang, a young man whose life intersects with his parents in unexpected ways, highlighting themes of alienation and repressed desire.

Production

The film was written by Tsai Ming-liang, Yi-chun Tsai, and Pi-ying Yang, with cinematography by Pen-jung Liao. It features a runtime of 115 minutes and was released on August 27, 1997.

Cast

• Lee Kang-sheng as Xiao-kang
• Tien Miao as Father
• Yi-Ching Lu as Mother
• Ann Hui as Director
• Chen Shiang-chyi as Girl
• Chao-jung Chen as Anonymous Man
• Shiao-Lin Lu as Mother's lover
• Kuei-Mei Yang as Girl in Hotel