1 / 8
RUNTIME
Did you know
83 minutes exactly β the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#01
Suzhou River
"If you love me, search for me until you die. For me, who became a mermaid."
2000 1h 23m ZH
π
7.3
SOLID
π₯
91%
CERTIFIED FRESH
π
76
METACRITIC
β
7.4
IMDB
β
7.3TMDB Β· 187π
91%Rotten Tomatoesβ76Metacriticβ
7.4IMDB Β· 6,879
DramaRomance
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
After getting out of prison, small-time crook Mardar stumbles upon a woman who looks exactly like his long-lost lover, who he attempted to kidnap 3 years ago.
βIf you love me, search for me until you die. For me, who became a mermaid.β
Cast
Zhou Xun
Meimei / Moudan
Jia Hongsheng
Mardar
Nai An
Xiao Hong
Yao Anlian
Boss
Hua Zhongkai
Lao B.
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Lou Ye
- Writers
- Lou Ye
- Languages
- Mandarin
- Countries
- China, Germany
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts πΏ
2 / 8
ERA
Did you know
26 years old β old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#02
3 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
International production across 2 countries: China, Germany.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#03
4 / 8
ERA
Did you know
Lean credit list β fewer than 30 people officially credited.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Lou Ye, shot by Wang Yu. Note their partnership β DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by JΓΆrg Lemberg. Worth a dedicated listen after β most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#06
7 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Karl Riedl shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#07
8 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Zhou Xun and Jia Hongsheng and Nai An carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Lou Ye directs. Wang Yu behind the camera. JΓΆrg Lemberg scores. Karl Riedl cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in China, Germany. Dialogue in Mandarin.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 183 minutes exactly β the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
- 226 years old β old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 3International production across 2 countries: China, Germany.
- 4Lean credit list β fewer than 30 people officially credited.
- 5Directed by Lou Ye, shot by Wang Yu. Note their partnership β DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 6Original score by JΓΆrg Lemberg. Worth a dedicated listen after β most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 7Editor Karl Riedl shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 8Zhou Xun and Jia Hongsheng and Nai An carry the top of the cast.
- 9Marketing tagline: "If you love me, search for me until you die. For me, who became a mermaid.".
- 10IMDB entry: tt0234837 β still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 11Classified under 11 themes, including "shanghai, china", "kidnapping", "city portrait", "river".
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Wang Yu
- Original score
- JΓΆrg Lemberg
- Editing
- Karl Riedl
- Makeup / hair
- Xuemin Wang
- Runtime
- 83 min Β· 1h 23m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- ZH
- Rotten Tomatoes
- 91% π Fresh
- Metacritic
- 76/100
- IMDB rating
- 7.4/10 Β· 6,879 votes
- US box office
- $96,330
Awards
6 wins & 3 nominations
Also by
Lou Ye
Stills Β· wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames β open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
Essential Filmproduktion
DE
- DR
Dream Factory
CN
Key crew
- ProducerNai An
- EditorKarl Riedl
- Assistant DirectorMao Xiaorui
- Associate ProducerJian Wei Han
- Sound EditorFu Kang
- Associate ProducerSusanne Martin
- Associate ProducerBrock Norman Brock
- Associate ProducerTakashi Asai
- Production ManagerYongling Wu
- SoundMartin Steyer
- Post Production SupervisorRichard Lehun
- SoundPeijun Xu
- ProducerPhilippe Bober
- Makeup ArtistXuemin Wang
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- shanghai, china
- kidnapping
- city portrait
- river
- vodka
- mermaid
- mistaken identity
- courier
- motorcycle
- neo-noir
- videography
Release history Β· US
When it landed
- Physical2001-10-16Β· DVD
- Physical2023-03-27Β· Blu-ray
Also known as
International titles
- Suzhou HeCN
- La rivière SuzhouFR
- θε·ζ²³HK
- μμ₯¬KR
