Production
The family configuration in this film also appeared in director Tsai Ming-liang's previous film, Rebels of the Neon God, and would appear again in What Time Is It There?, with the same three actors. Tsai decided to incorporate neck pain into The River when his star actor, Lee Kang-sheng, had a similar neck problem for nine months prior to shooting Tsai's Vive L'Amour. After Vive L'Amour was completed, they immediately began work on The River.
According to Tsai, he had a difficult time convincing actor Miao Tien (who plays the father) to appear in the film. Miao was reluctant because his character was homosexual. However, he eventually agreed to take the part and ended up doing some research for it by visiting gay bars and saunas.
The film was first released in 1997 and opened in the United States in 2001.
Read more about this topic: The River (1997 Film)
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