On the set of Vive L'Amour, whose production immediately preceded The River, star Lee Kang-sheng dealt with chronic neck pains which inspired this film.
The director of the movie in which Xiao-Keng floats in the river is played by real-life Hong Kong director Ann Hui.
Xiao-kang's name derives from a Chinese term traditionally used to refer to a near-ideal period of peace and prosperity; today, it refers to modest wealth.