FLOW (STRAUME)

Wordless Latvian animated movie Flow is at its best when it lets the at times stunning visuals do the talking, yet it also exists in a weird limbo between a flick for kids and one for grown-ups.

Flow opens almost immediately with its inciting incident: a biblical flood that sends animals in the forest scurrying for dry land – and when that runs out: an abandoned boat. What unfolds is seen through the bright yellow eyes of a black cat as he tries to make sense of his new environment and is forced to find an allegiance with other animals on the boat: a dog, a capybara, a lemur.

Narratively the movie doesn’t really cover any new ground. The filmmakers use ingredients from other pictures, like Life of Pi, the Planet of the Apes series and certain segments from Disney’s Fantasia 2000 to sculpt a predictable but nicely executed story, even if it does resort once to often in the trope of animals falling from board, climbing back on and then nearly getting lost at sea again.

What it lacks in story – and to a certain extent: character – Flow does make up for in the visual department. The protagonist are rendered in a pleasing mix between realism and impressionism, with cat and capybara standing out. Even more impressive is the way the picture is lit: the light’s refraction on and in the water makes Flow really come alive.

Another high point is Gints Zilbalodis’ direction: he expertly uses the waterline as a source of suspense, conflict and emotion, as the camera roves with consummate ease around the lead characters. His style succeeds very well in sweeping you up in the action, which somewhat covers up the movie’s flaws.

Those rise to the surface prominently in the third act, when you are left pondering where exactly the film takes place – the designs mix in several cultures and animals – and what happened to the absent humans. But what bugged me most was a climax that goes for cheap kid-friendly morals, while the rest of the picture seems to be aiming for more than this. Flow to me thus is a film that doesn’t dare to stick with its conviction and therefore ends on a messy note.

release: 2024

director: Gints Zilbalodis

starring: -