7.1
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Only the River Flows (2023)
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Progressive
Viewer Rating
Rating: 7.1
Overview
1990s, Banpo Town, rural China. A woman's body is found by the river. Ma Zhe, Chief of the Criminal Police, heads up the murder investigation that leads to an obvious arrest. His superiors hurry to congratulate him, but several clues push Ma Zhe to delve deeper into the hidden behaviour of his fellow citizens.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Prime VideoBias Dimensions
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Neutral
Trans: Positive
Overview
1990s, Banpo Town, rural China. A woman's body is found by the river. Ma Zhe, Chief of the Criminal Police, heads up the murder investigation that leads to an obvious arrest. His superiors hurry to congratulate him, but several clues push Ma Zhe to delve deeper into the hidden behaviour of his fellow citizens.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Prime VideoDetailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Progressive
Primary
The film's dominant themes, including its subtle critique of authoritarian bureaucracy and its emphasis on individual autonomy against state control, align with left-leaning values of personal freedom and skepticism towards government overreach.
The movie features a cast that reflects its Chinese setting, including diverse marginalized characters. Its narrative strongly critiques the oppressive societal and bureaucratic structures that lead to the exclusion and tragic fates of non-conforming individuals, highlighting systemic inequities.
Secondary
The film portrays LGBTQ+ characters as marginalized individuals subjected to social prejudice and police suspicion in 1990s rural China. While their experiences highlight societal exclusion and injustice, the narrative uses these portrayals to critique institutional biases rather than endorse them, resulting in a neutral net impact on LGBTQ+ identity.
Only the River Flows provides a respectful and authentic portrayal of transsexual characters, centering on Sicarú, a transgender woman, within Zapotec indigenous culture. The film explores identity, acceptance, and relationships with emotional depth, framing societal challenges as external while affirming the dignity and complexity of trans lives and love.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
The provided information states there are no characters in "Only the River Flows" whose on-screen gender differs from their established gender in source material or historical record. A character's cross-dressing is explicitly noted as a behavioral portrayal, not a gender swap.
The film's casting maintains ethnic and phenotypical authenticity, with all major characters portrayed by ethnically Chinese actors whose appearances align with the source novella and the 1990s rural Chinese setting. No characters established as one race are portrayed as a different race.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
6.6
6.4
Critic Ratings
8.5
7.0
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