Animation is an art form that sets up a spectacle that anyone can enjoy or find some level of tranquility amongst. This decade has introduced us to countless works of art that have been able to show off the beauty that the human mind can comprehend, through visuals that few could imagine. As the Academy Awards conclude, the discussion of what deserves to be the champion of each category remains a hot topic amongst cinephiles and general audiences alike. It is not surprising to see an artistic film such as this get recognized for such a big accomplishment, but many who have not seen this ask themselves “Should this film have won?”
From the realm of Latvian director, Gints Zilbalodis, comes a film called “Flow,” an animal odyssey that follows a black cat as it trajects its way to a haven across a flood ridden world that’s wiped out all of humankind. Along the way, this critter encounters an unlikely set of companions that venture towards the same goal and discover a bond that brings them together. Survival is the core theme within this film and questions these adorable creatures with the concept of morality that has never been shown quite this way until this release. It begs the question: what if Mother Nature retook the earth and animals were the only ones around? No dialogue is present throughout this film, and it relies heavily on the emotions portrayed through the animals with the soundtrack accompanying it.
There is a certain mystique around it, yet it is not completely ambiguous to the point of it being an enigma since they give the animals a deep sense of personality while also keeping their behaviors that they are normally accustomed to. It carries a feeling of spiritually and has an aura that is mythologically breathtaking with how it conveys religious symbolism that stretches between Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism. Zilbalodis does a terrific job of putting you in the paws of a defenseless little cat experiencing a world changing event by utilizing tracking and long shots to create tension. You will easily find yourself attached to these furry friends, nail biting and tear jerking as they encounter distressful obstacles. Thankfully, it does not treat animals cruelly but rather paints the animals in an intelligent manner that comes off as human in some ways.
The animation is reminiscent of video games such as “Stray”, “Journey”, and “Abzu,” and has a tone that is unlike most western animation since most animation is not cheap to produce. The fact that this film was built on a budget of $4 million on a free animation software, Blender, and took 5 ½ years to produce rightfully shows how AI has nothing on human creativity. The colors bloom in every single shot, from the way the animals are depicted to how the environment around them is rapidly shifting. There is quite a lot that you can dissect and analyze with the amount of detail that is scattered throughout this film. This film is dedicated to animal lovers, admirers of nature and those who appreciate magnificently constructed animation.
Latvia’s first film to be nominated and win an Academy Award and one of the best to come out of 2024’s slate. It is time to ask the question: is this film acceptable for being considered the best animated feature of the 97th academy awards? Honestly, yes. Most have probably not even heard of this film until after its win for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It is certainly understandable if you would have considered something else, in which the argument could be made. But to conclude, out of all films to receive the award, this stands out as the most unique and creative of the bunch. After you watch this, you will certainly never forget it. “Flow” may appear quiet and unassuming,but it moves like water with its beautiful scenery and fluid animation, and hits like a tsunami with its gripping plot and intense emotion.
