Joey Magidson
Animation can tell any story, given the open-ended nature of the medium. A protagonist can be anyone or anything. The setting can be anywhere, at any time in human history. Past, present, future, it’s all on the table. So, there can be an instinct to go big. That Flow avoids that, while still setting its story in the future, is really a feat to behold. This animated film is unlike any we’ve seen, truly. It’s a movie that will stay with you long after it ends. I loved it, truly. This flick is something special.
Flow wowed me from start to finish. Now, I’m a sucker for animals, so this was up my alley, though I’d contend that just about any viewer can be blown away by this simple yet moving tale. To some degree, what you put into this one is what you get, but it’s so hypnotically effective that you can’t help but get sucked in, almost immediately.
Set at some point in a lush yet now uninhabited (by humans, at least) future, we meet Cat. Cat is a solitary animal, content to observe other creatures going about their day, while enjoying the home it clearly once shared with a family. When the home is ruined by a huge flood, he needs to find a new home. Taking refuge on a boat. one populated by various other species, it’s initially a very tough time for all.
Eventually, Cat teams up with a capybara, a lemur, a bird, and a dog (a really fun yellow Labrador Retriever), to navigate the boat in a hunt of dry land. Of course, this world now being filled with water presents many a challenge, leading to a sense of trust building between the animals. For a chance at survival, they must be brave, sure, but they almost must learn to rely on each other. Can they?
Co-writer/director Gints Zilbalodis, along with co-writer Matiss Kaza, impeccably crafts this world. With nothing but facial expressions and movements, we fall in love with this cat almost immediately. I also became very fond of the yellow lab, with their differing personalities on full display. There are so many emotions and moving moments over the course of 84 minutes, even up until the literal final seconds (after the credits, in fact), but it never once feels artificial or saccharine. Every single bit is earned, and then some.
Flow really captured my attention and imagination. From its environmental message to its simple tale of animal survival, there’s something for everyone. This is one of the best animated films of the year and one of 2024’s best movies overall. It’s a late breaking contender for my year end top ten list and damn near a masterpiece. I loved it.
SCORE: ★★★1/2
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