Flow

by Aprille Hanson-Spivey

Photo: Baltic Content Media

Director: Gints Zibalodis 
Rated: PG (peril & thematic elements) 
Runtime: 1 hour & 25 minutes 

​Humans can learn something from animals in the silence of their language and their ability to coexist. Sure, animals have distinct sounds, but they can communicate across species and live together in a way that doesn’t require a total understanding of unique languages, making their lives extraordinary. If you’ve ever had a pet, you know that looking into their eyes sends you deep into their soul. It’s beyond explanation.

This reality is captured beautifully in the Oscar-winning animated feature film, “Flow,” directed by Gints Zilbalodis. The Lithuanian film marks the country’s first Oscar win, but it’s groundbreaking for many reasons. There’s no dialogue in the film, with music and the real-life sounds of animals as the only sound backdrop. This could easily make it boring, but the thrilling story combined with the animal’s expressions – which sometimes break from realism – move the one-hour and 25-minute film along at a decent speed. It’s a massive testament to the filmmakers. The film also did not use high-budget animation techniques but a free, open-source software called Blender. Production in total cost $3.7 million. For comparison, the film’s biggest rival for the Oscar win, Universal’s brilliant “The Wild Robot” cost $78 million.

“Flow” centers on Cat – none of the animals have names or defined genders – who is living in what seems to be a post-apocalyptic world where humans are no longer there. Cat lives a pretty normal life given the circumstances, living off the land, running from prey animals (like a local pack of dogs) and curling up in the bed of a home, which could have been their former owners (it’s never defined). We have no idea of any of these creatures we encounter ever existed with humans.

Soon, Cat’s world quickly drowns around them – literally. A flood consumes Cat’s home, and they are left swimming for their life. Cat must find drier land for safety, and they’re not the only one. Cat thankfully is saved by a Whale-like sea monster and a wooden boat manned by a capybara. The duo picks up other creatures along the way, including a klepto lemur, a hyper Golden retriever and a savior Secretary Bird who winds up leaving his flock in solidarity with Cat.

They weave throughout a beautiful, treacherous world in this tiny boat, with plenty of hilarious, true-to-their-nature moments: Cat bouncing back and forth toward a light reflecting off Lemur’s mirror they can’t help but stare into, one of Lemur’s many treasures; Capybara sleeping every moment they can, giving zero cares about their predicament; the Golden retriever playing with Lemur’s treasured glass ball; and Secretary Bird trying to keep the nonsense in check all while steering the boat.

But there are also moments when their survival is tested, from Cat getting separated from the boat when they chase after Secretary Bird to the boat being suspended in a tree, high above a cliff with Capybara trapped inside. There are beautiful moments where the family must come together to help each other, and sometimes others – like the rest of the dog pack stranded at sea, standing on a structure barking to be rescued. Then, of course, there’s the somewhat divinity of Whale, who always seems there to save the creatures in various ways, if they were ever really there.

There are many theories about the meaning behind “Flow,” with director Zilbalodis being clear that he has his own interpretation of his films, which he usually doesn’t comment on to give others room to see it from their own experience. Themes include climate change, what it means to build a community and even our relationship with the divine.

For me, it’s a story of found-family and how, amid impossible situations, there’s hope in working together. In a divisive, chaotic world, we can learn lessons from these creatures who banded together despite their differences and the odds stacked against them.

“Flow” is a captivating film that is so different in a sea of great animated features. It’s ultimately a simple story with so much heart. I loved watching it, as did our cat, Simba, who was enthralled for most of the story, staring up at Cat and the other creatures. Watching our beloved pet watch a film with a similar fascination perfectly encapsulated the film’s universality and portrayal of how a shared experience can connect us, no matter what species we are.