In Japanese independent films, limits don′t seem to exist, like in a wide mud flat. No matter how deep you dig, the bottom is always impossible to reach. As such, sometimes people would get their feet hurt on the street, but also occasionally come across a shining gem. For some people, that gem is probably this film, river, by 20-year veteran theater director Takayuki Suzui. Four people who were at the same elementary school come across each other by accident one day, and are pulled into a crime. But, these four characters are complicatedly interwoven, even though they are unaware of it. The main characters include a police officer who got a hostage killed because of his own mistakes; the fiance of that hostage; a bartender who has given up his dream of being a sport star; and an unidentified man. The film at first portrays the daily life of each, and then suddenly turns into a crime thriller about a pharmaceutical company robbery. Then it again turns back in time to when they were in elementary school. Embracing characteristics of independent films and modern films all together at the same time, the director excellently manages to produce very unique and fascinating features by combining psychological exposition, performance, and plot. Though a low-budget independent film, river is as good as any A-movie; that is, a film with the big name stars and big production values. This film is one of the few in which both artistic attitude and entertaining characteristics successfully coexist. (Kwon Yong-min)