Flow (2024)★ 8.1/10

Some divine moments: the vulture ascends to immortality, the whale is stranded on land.

I would give my life for the capybara

A super warm & lovely animation.

Visually, the hand-painted watercolor aesthetic is breathtaking, with the beached whale sequence standing out as a powerful symbol of death and rebirth. Without dialogue, the film relies solely on imagery and music to convey emotion, immersing viewers in its world. It is more than an animal adventure—it is a reflection on coexistence, trust, and the essence of life, offering both a visual and emotional spectacle.

Though devoid of human characters, there's still a sense of humanity. The remnants of a lost civilization serve as a silent backdrop, while the animals behave according to human perceptions, such as the dogs chasing balls and cats swatting at light. This odyssey is more than a survival journey; it is an exploration of trust, compromise, and growth.

With no dialogue throughout, the film still manages to tell a heartwarming story. As a natural disaster forces a group of animals to flee their homes, they serendipitously find refuge in an abandoned sailboat. Though they begin as wary strangers—even adversaries—they gradually learn to trust and help one another. Their growing friendships and acts of kindness make for an emotionally uplifting journey.

This film is undeniably a story of growth, awareness, redemption, and gratitude. As the tides force various animals on a journey of survival, each undergoes a transformation. Their behaviors and instincts serve as reflections of human nature—whether it’s the loyal dog, the greedy lemur, the timid yet introspective kitten, or the gentle capybara, each character is vividly portrayed, flawed yet deeply relatable, much like people themselves.

Here comes a tiny movie from Latvia that went on to be the first independent film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. FLOW is a beautiful story of a cat’s journey of survival. The humans are gone, but there’s evidence that they were there, and they worshipped Cat. Cat is curious but cautious. One day, it is forced to flee its home because of a great flood. It lands on a boat, eventually meeting various animals, such as a lethargic capybara, a materialistic lemur, a stoic secretary bird, and an energetic dog. This movie has no dialogue, which is a feat in itself. The animals act realistically for the most part, their personalities slowly changing as the movie goes on. The theme of reflection is the most prominent here. The use of the water’s reflection or through a hand mirror reminds the animals and us the audience that we all have a place in this world. This movie is open to many interpretations, from religious, spiritual, and physical perspectives. To me, it’s a cautionary tale of climate change and promotes the idea of togetherness, of putting aside differences to benefit the Earth. This movie has put Latvia’s film industry on the map, and when director Gints Zilbalodis was asked to make a sequel, he thankfully said no. I could tell this was made by a very small, passionate team of people, with Gints himself doing the music, editing, cinematography, producing, writing AND directing. This is a breath of fresh air for everybody who’s tired of the Disney formula. Go support independent films and go with the FLOW wherever it leads you!

The world has changed after the disappearance of humans. I like it better than "The Wild Robot". It does not over-anthropomorphize the animals, but studies the characteristics and instincts of the animals on this "Noah's Ark" and perfects it into a healing drifting story. It really played a role when I was recovering from the flu.

Sem palavras.

Esto es una divinidad de película , llore y rei me hizo sentir que raza humana le falta mucho para llegarle al gato o al perro ... Hermosa de verdad

Una propuesta innovadora en animación que explora la conexión con la naturaleza y el autoconocimiento. Su estilo visual hipnótico y su narrativa contemplativa la hacen una experiencia única. Sin depender del diálogo, transmite emociones profundas a través de imágenes. Es un viaje sensorial que invita a la reflexión. Una joya para quienes buscan cine experimental.