‘Flow’ Review – A Profoundly Affecting & Groundbreaking Use Of Animation [Cannes 2024]

Over the years, it has been proven that animation can be as equally emotionally impactful as live-action features. Think of moments such as the death of Bambi’s mum, Mufasa dying in The Lion King, or the entirety of the Pixar short film Bao. None of these scenes and movies have left anyone untouched. Sometimes, an enchanting, emotionally loaded, and lively animation tells much more than a thousand dialogues ever could. The latest work by director/co-writer Gints Zilbalodis (Away) is a prime example of that. Flow, part of the Un Certain Regard selection at the Cannes Film Festival this year, feels like a breath of fresh air in the animation industry as it uses a hybrid animation consisting of CGI wireframe models and a hand-drawn animation look. The result is an impressive, compelling, and enthralling work.

Zilbalodis and co-writer Matiss Kaza (Neon Spring, The Taste of Water) don’t only play on the emotional heartstrings of people but also on our love for adorable animals. The central character in this feature is Flow, a black cat roaming around on Cat Island. Apart from the few signs that remind us that humans once lived on the island, the place is also human-free. Flow instantly has you in its spell because of its piercing eyes. Saucer-looking eyes behind which a lot of curiosity, playfulness and independence lurk. You instantly get a glimpse of Flow’s personality.

Creating the right personality for each character is key in this movie. After an immense flood engulfs Cat Island, Flow has to find refugees, and after a complex and lengthy search, she finds them on a tiny boat. A boat that, throughout this feature, will turn into Noah’s ark. Apart from Flow, other animals, such as a labrador, lemur, Capybara, and stork, board the ship. Each of the characters has their own so important and very tangible personality and authenticity. When the bond between the animals becomes stronger and when they overcome dangerous perils together, the character traits become much more visible.

Everyone with a labrador will undoubtedly recognize the traits of their beloved dog in the golden labrador you see in Flow. The animal is always up for a game of fetch, waggles his tale from excitement, and loves nothing more than food and sleep. You may or may not know much about Capybaras, but based on the one going on a dangerous adventure, the animals spend much time napping and are terrific swimmers. They also live in groups, which becomes very clear in this feature. The Capybara always wants to do what’s best for the team and will never give up until every member is brought to safety. The behaviour of the animals is clearly borrowed from the real-life version, making this feature feel very authentic.

It’s not only the behaviour that oozes a legitimate true-to-life vibe; also, the physicality is spot on. You don’t have to look long at the different characters before figuring out what each animal they are. The stripy physicality of the lemur, the golden shine of the labrador, the short-haired, brown Capybara and the pitch-black Flow all come to life beautifully. What makes them all look so natural is their fur. The fur is one element that shows you early on what a crafty and visually impressive feature this work is. The imperfectly-looking layers of pelts look hand-drawn, and those ‘imperfections’ make it feel like you’re watching a nature documentary. On top of that, the fur also adds a lot of realism to the feature and animals you will meet during the 84-minute runtime.

What heightens that real-life aspect even more is the sound. No dialogues are present, so everything hinges on the animations and the sounds. The sound department does a tremendous job. The meowing and growls, as well as squeals and purring, almost make you forget you’re watching animated characters instead of real animals. The different intonations truly convey every character’s feelings and will play a crucial part in the non-words conversation. The sounds also make it feel like the characters are standing next to you and that you are on a poetic survival journey with them.

The only aspect that prevents us from giving this feature a perfect score is the slight repetitiveness towards the end. However, ultimately, Zilbalodis successfully blends technological complexity with spellbinding storytelling, ultra-realistic imagery, and a bunch of marvellous animals in a timeless feature that focuses on beauty and emotions.

Flow held its World Premiere as a part of the Un Certain Regard section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. The film will be released by Sideshow and Janus Films in the United States. 

Director: Gints Zilbalodis

Screenwriters: Matiss Kaza, Gints Zilbalodis

Rated: NR

Runtime: 85m