Flow Movie Review: This Oscar nominee is a meditative, cinematic story about the wonders of the animal world and the instinct to survive

Flow movie review

A silent odyssey of survival and companionship

‘Flow’ is an animated film and revolves around the adventure of a black cat navigating floodwaters. This film is part survival drama and part endearing tale of friendship. The dialogue-less film features natural animal sounds as it follows the journey of the hero, the black cat Flow, alongside an excitable Labrador, a slothful capybara, a prickly lemur, and a dominating secretary bird. These unlikely partners must team up on a sailboat as civilization appears to have submerged under the rising waters of an undefined flood. Flow seems to have lived with a loving human owner, as signs of life emerge from the sinking home it must leave behind. The bed is half-made, and portraits and statues suggest a home where humans and cats coexisted in harmony.

Water floods this feline-led island. As towering cat sculptures slowly begin to submerge and Flow mews desperately for help, the film gives you a sinking feeling at the start. But as the cat finds its unlikely animal allies, the film builds toward a meditative narration of existence and survival.

A cat’s quest for survival

When the adorable, liquid-eyed cat escapes to the tallest point around—a towering cat statue—one wonders if this dialogue-less film serves as a warning against the consequences of global warming. Animator and director Gints Zilbalodis, who co-wrote the script with Matiss Kaza, leaves this undefined. Instead, the narrative heightens the sense of impending doom as it introduces packs of other animals that have survived this cataclysmic flood.

As the skeletons of homes emerge every now and then, Flow is joined by a playful Labrador, an unperturbed capybara, a prickly lemur, and a majestic bird. Together, this odd collection of different species sails down an undefined path, surviving, foraging for food, looking out for each other, and occasionally breaking into fights—all aboard a sailboat.

When nature reclaims the world

Perhaps a deliberate tactic by the filmmaker, the time period in which ‘Flow’ is set remains uncertain, which can be somewhat confusing. A city resembling medieval European architecture emerges from a mountain, now submerged underwater. Its streets have a whale swimming through them, while all human life has vanished.

It also serves as a visual commentary on the planet’s resilience and the ability of various species to adapt and survive after humanity has squandered its natural resources. The animals and birds hunt in packs and become territorial. Once cast out by their own kind, they develop a heightened consciousness, forming connections with other species—like the motley crew surrounding Flow.

Animation beyond the Disney formula

Zilbalodis made this film using the free, open-source software Blender. He co-wrote the script with Matiss Kaza, and while their universe is submerged in floodwaters, it is also sun-dappled, picture-perfect, and a synthetic shade of green.

One can overlook this aspect because the film presents an alternative approach to animated filmmaking, moving beyond the chatty celebrity voices that Disney has made standard. ‘Flow’ is quiet, self-absorbed in its story of a cat and her animal friends forming connections, offering a refreshing departure from the conventional commercial animated film.

What works and what doesn’t 

The heightened colour scheme of its animation can sometimes feel like a video game, where reality is amplified by a few tones. The absence of humanity could have been explained better, adding an educative touch to the film’s story. The film’s pace is patient, unlike adrenaline-fueled animated movies.

However, categorizing this film’s technical aspects purely in terms of appeal would minimize its achievement. It is a picture-perfect cinematic story that seamlessly merges real animal sounds with human emotions and experiences, while also emphasizing that the animal world can develop an independent consciousness for survival. Grunts, barks, flicked ears, wagged tails, and screeching birds convey a wide range of emotions effectively.

Verdict

‘Flow’ is a must-watch for animation movie buffs and families, but when showing it to children, it’s important to be mindful of its apocalyptic setting. Beyond entertainment, it is a marvel of technological wizardry with a poignant human touch.

Director: Gints Zilbalodis

Rating: 4/5

(‘Flow’ is released in theatres)