River

2023

1h 26m

Comedy

Sci-Fi

List

100%

Tomatometer

24 Reviews

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Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

Somehow the heartwarming growth of the ryokan's ragtag and rambunctious residents and employees, across conversations, chase sequences, and even lyrical romance, means that River never once feels tedious.

Oct 3, 2023

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Jennie Kermode

Eye for Film

Yamaguchi and his regular writer, Makoto Ueda, have such a deep understanding of their characters that it’s the emotional timeline, rather than the physical one, that becomes the subject of real concern.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 12, 2024

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Michelle Kisner

The Movie Sleuth

River is a heartfelt and ingenious take on time loops and makes an excellent companion piece to Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes.

Feb 12, 2024

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Alex Billington

FirstShowing.net

It's exciting to see them play with the potential of this concept... So adorable and uplifting and wholesome, which is part of the magic of the experience.

Rated: 9.5/10

Oct 22, 2023

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Louisa Moore

Screen Zealots

Touching and hilarious, this sweet dramedy is a delightful, lighthearted, and clever entry in the director’s time loop filmography.

Oct 16, 2023

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Michael Nordine

Film Occasionally

It might sound like faint praise to call River an instant classic in the time-loop canon, but Junta Yamaguchi’s lighthearted charmer is a worthy complement to the likes of Groundhog Day all the same.

Sep 30, 2023

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Chris O

While stuck in a Loop that incorporates the passing seasons, the staff of a hotel try to both keep their guests happy and informed while also attempting to understand and extricate themselves from the situation. Unlike other loop themed tales, everyone recalls everything from previous iterations. This allows them to perform a variety of experiments to gain information that could lead to an exit. At same time all the usual human responses and interactions proceed apace. With an overlay of Japanese mannerisms, the story is completely beguiling.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/30/23

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Junta Yamaguchi

Director

Saori

Actor

Riko Fujitani

Actor

Kazunari Tosa

Actor

Shiori Kubo

Actor

Makoto Ueda

Screenwriter

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Director: Junta Yamaguchi
Screenwriter: Makoto Ueda
Genre: Comedy, Sci-Fi
Original Language: Japanese
Runtime: 1h 26m