TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A chilling chapter from Taiwan's criminal history comes to the silver screen as "Where the River Flows" (搜查瑠公圳), a dramatization of the island nation's first recorded female dismemberment case, debuts in theaters next Thursday (May 22). The film represents director Lai Chun-yu's (賴俊羽) nine-year passion project, meticulously developed to engage viewers through both its tense storytelling and profound emotional resonance.
The production team orchestrated special Mother's Day preview screenings across three major Taiwanese cities — Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Taichung — last Friday. Director Lai joined actresses Julia Wu (吳卓源) and Pan Yi-chun (潘儀君) at these events, where they engaged with enthusiastic audiences through behind-the-scenes stories and photo opportunities. Wu recounted a particularly challenging kidnapping sequence in which Hong Kong actor Tommy Chu Pak Hong (朱栢康) exercised restraint to prevent actual harm, prompting Lai to personally demonstrate the more forceful approach he envisioned.
The historical thriller excavates a notorious 1961 murder case that occurred in Taipei's Liugong Canal (瑠公圳), a waterway that once flowed through the capital city, sending shockwaves through Taiwan's then-conservative society. Beyond its crime procedural elements, the narrative explores the complex emotional dynamics between detective Chang Shih (張世) and his son, portrayed by actors Berant Zhu (朱軒洋). During promotional events, actress Pan emphasized the powerful familial tensions and eventual resolution between these characters as particularly moving aspects of the storyline.
With its imminent theatrical release, "Where the River Flows" positions itself as both a gripping crime thriller and a nuanced examination of Taiwanese society during a transformative period. The production merges meticulous historical recreation with compelling personal narratives, offering viewers an immersive journey into a case that fundamentally altered public perceptions of crime and justice in Taiwan's post-war era. Director Lai's nearly decade-long commitment to the project underscores its significance beyond conventional entertainment. ★