58
Metascore
9 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 83The PlaylistNikola GrozdanovicThe PlaylistNikola GrozdanovicStill The Water is at its enchanting best when depicting the mysteries of death and the conflicts of trying to come to terms with it.
- 80CineVueJohn BleasdaleCineVueJohn BleasdaleA fluid, dreamlike tone poem of mothers and fathers, death and continuance.
- 75Original-CinLinda BarnardOriginal-CinLinda BarnardRodgers has created familiar and relatable characters despite dialogue that occasionally slips into melodrama.
- 75RogerEbert.comMatt Zoller SeitzRogerEbert.comMatt Zoller SeitzStill the Water knows what it is and what it's doing, and even if it doesn't quite come together in the end, it's a mistake to think that there's no point or plan just because the movie doesn't regularly announce its intentions.
- 60The GuardianPeter BradshawThe GuardianPeter BradshawKawase's film is sometimes beautiful and moving but I couldn't help occasionally finding it a little contrived and self-conscious.
- 60EmpireDavid ParkinsonEmpireDavid ParkinsonWhile beautiful, early scenes of shocking violence give way to philosophising and gauche symbolism.
- 50The Hollywood ReporterClarence TsuiThe Hollywood ReporterClarence TsuiWhile the director prides herself for having a mix of pro and amateur actors improvising scenes, many awkward moments emerge as the characters seemingly are just instructed to let their conversations and interactions flow: the result is missed beats, protracted silences and characters staring at each other or into space for too long.
- 50Original-CinLiam LaceyOriginal-CinLiam LaceyKawase’s attempt at a healing, nature-loving cathartic conclusion comes across as campy, as if a scene from The Blue Lagoon was accidentally attached to a Japanese nature documentary.
- 40VarietyMaggie LeeVarietyMaggie LeeKawase embraces nature worship and pompous philosophizing in her indulgently mannerist style, which, over the course of two hours, overwhelms a small yet potentially moving story of two teenagers dealing with separation within their families.