Flow (2024)

Plot Summary: A stray cat navigates a post-apocalyptic flood, forming unexpected bonds with other animals as they struggle to survive in an ever-changing world. Without dialogue or anthropomorphism, the film delivers an emotional journey of resilience and adaptation.

Director: Gints Zilbalodis
Producer: Matīss Kaža, Gints Zilbalodis, Ron Dyens, Gregory Zalcman
Screenplay: Gints Zilbalodis, Matīss Kaža

Starring:
No voice cast (dialogue-free film)

 

***SPOILER ALERT***

A Video Game or a Movie?

And we’re back! Still haven’t finished my Frank Oz filmography (only two movies to go!), but hey, when do I even have time to watch movies alone anymore? So, here we are again with another animated feature. This time, it’s Flow by Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis, a film that has racked up awards and was entirely made using Blender. At first, I was worried. The opening scene felt like watching a Twitch stream of someone playing a journey survival video game. The graphics didn’t impress me, and the initial chase sequence felt like it was pulled straight from some game dev tutorial. I was starting to think that all these film critics just don’t play video games—because if they did, they wouldn’t be so easily impressed by this kind of stuff. But then, the water started rising, and with it, my skepticism washed away. I realized: Oh, wait... this is actually a real movie!

Survival, Real Animals, and That Majestic Bird

Like Robot Dreams, this movie has no dialogue, but Flow takes it a step further—no anthropomorphism. These animals act like animals, which is honestly refreshing. Our main character, a cat, finds itself in a Waterworld-style survival journey, meeting a capybara, a labrador, a lemur, and a secretarybird. Now, I initially thought this bird was made up, like the mythological whale in the film. But no, turns out it’s a real bird, and Zilbalodis apparently studied it in zoos. I found its final scene absolutely stunning. The animation itself? I still don’t love how the characters look, but the movements? Spot on. The attention to detail in their behaviors and mannerisms is beautiful. And as the story unfolded, I became genuinely attached to these animals, rooting for their survival. Though, halfway through, I started wondering if this was really the best choice to watch with my daughter. Rising oceans, heavy themes, and that one intense scene with the secretarybirds? Yeah… not exactly light bedtime material. Hopefully, this doesn’t spark a sudden fear of the ocean, because we go to the beach a lot in summer.

There's Just One Question

One of the coolest things? Zilbalodis didn’t just direct and co-written the movie. He also composed the score. And it’s good. Emotionally deep, with big pad soothing sounds and other electronic pieces that perfectly suited the film’s tone. The guy put 5 into this project, and his hard work paid off. He even got a statue of the cat installed in Riga and was named “Riga Citizen of the Year” in 2024. Now that’s dedication. That said, I do have one nitpick. When the water starts to recede… where are all the fish? You’re telling me we get a massive, dragon-like wave, but no vibrant schools of fish swimming around? That extra bit of detail would’ve been amazing (though, yeah, probably another few months of work). Still, this minor gripe doesn’t take away from the experience. Flow is a fantastic film—more mature than I expected, but deeply engaging. I may not love the character designs, but I was never bored for a single minute. And when that little capybara took that risky boat jump? Let’s just say I had some sweat forming on my forehead while glancing at my daughter, praying this wouldn’t turn into a traumatic experience. All in all? Definitely worth watching. Between Flow, The Wild Robot, and Robot Dreams, I’d take Flow any day for its depth, setting, and originality. Now that Zilbalodis is a widely recognized filmmaker, here’s hoping we don’t have to wait another five years for his next masterpiece!

🎥 Cinematography (7/10):

Stylish but felt like a video game at first.

📖 Story (9/10):

Emotional, deep, and well-written.

🎬 Direction (10/10):

Zilbalodis' dedication shows.

👥 Characters (7/10):

Designs look ugly to me, but they grow on you.

💥 Visual Effects (N/A):

🎭 Acting (N/A):

💬 Dialogue (10/10):

Silent storytelling done right.

🌍 Setting/Atmosphere (9/10):

Hauntingly beautiful and immersive.

🎵 Music (9/10):

Synth-heavy and deeply emotional.

😄 Entertainment Value (8/10):

Engaging and moving, not that suitable for little kids.

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