Flow

Sunday March 9 @ 1:30 pm

Preceded by Maybe Elephants

Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
1 hr 25 min
Rated G
Released 2024

Flow, Latvia’s entry for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars, shimmers with the essence of life and the spirit of selfless cooperation. Its narrative clarity makes its fable seem timeless, while innovating and expanding the visual immersion of its medium. Starring an expressive black cat, who presumably had an adoring human owner, as its protagonist, Flow introduces us to a land devoid of people. Evidence that they once inhabited this forest area exists, but we are likely observing a post-humanity timeline as the Earth heals itself from our transgressions.

A wondrous journey, through realms natural and mystical, Flow follows a courageous cat after his home is devastated by a great flood. Teaming up with a capybara, a lemur, a bird, and a dog to navigate a boat in search of dry land, they must rely on trust, courage, and wits to survive the perils of a newly aquatic planet. From the boundless imagination of the award-winning Gints Zilbalodis (Away) comes a thrilling animated spectacle as well as a profound meditation on the fragility of the environment and the spirit of friendship and community. Steeped in the soaring possibilities of visual storytelling, Flow is a feast for the senses and a treasure for the heart.

Despite occasional supernatural elements, the story’s focus on ordinary animals is part of its charm. The motley crew has a loose goal: to pilot the boat toward a titanic rock structure visible in the distance. However, Flow is more interested in the in-between moments—acts of companionship and survival where animals from different points on the food chain learn to co-exist. Their grunts, meows, barks, squawks, and screeches evolve into a decipherable language. In all their unspoken wisdom, they are trying to tell us we can only save ourselves if we see ourselves as part of a whole, and not as distinct factions warring over trivialities.

As we confront our imminent climate crisis and the many other cataclysms that plague our reality, we’ll only have each other to make it through. Flow boasts a hopeful outlook; it suggests these storms won’t be permanent and that the deer will freely run through the forest again. Life, in all its splendor and blameless tragedy, will, indeed, flow. That is the beauty of Flow. Its minimalist direction keeps it grounded and adventurous, appealing to both adults and children. It’s not just for pet lovers but for animation enthusiasts seeking something that challenges the imagination and pushes the boundaries of mainstream cinema. With its animal-centric narrative, Flow achieves something profoundly human. With stunning animation, no dialogue, and a simple but gripping story, Flow is not just the best animated film of the year but one of the best films of 2024. It’s a must-see!