THE ENDLESS RIVER (2015) - ♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Oliver Hermanus

Written by - Oliver Hermanus

Starring - Nicolas Duvauchelle, Crystal-Donna Roberts

"THE ENDLESS RIVER talks about the casual meeting between a Frenchman who recently moved to South Africa with his family, and a woman who is re-united with her husband after his spell in jail due to gang related activities at a cafè. But their destinies will bring them together due to a violent act that takes place in the film's first act. 

OLIVER HERMANUS' film moves at a lyrical, slow and meditative pace that is flattered by its watercolour like cinematography by CHRIST LOTZ. And despite the thriller noir suit that it mostly follows, as the third act of the film especially shows, the film is much better when taken as a remuneration on more inner musings on relationships and guilt, which recalls the alienated tone of the works of ANTONIONI. 

Perhaps a little demanding for some, OLIVER HERMANUS in his bold directing style shows a confidence that is mostly lacking in today's cinema, but its vision of bleakness and human disenchantment is absolutely disarming."

Drama, South Africa/France