Flow - Movie Review

Flow (2024) tells the story of a stray cat and his life is turned upside down by a disaster, a flood. Stranded on a boat with a company of some animals such as dogs, birds, rabbits among others only makes the story to be told in pictures and not in words. Gradually the animals are left to face numerous adversities and the only way for them to survive is to unite: DRAW ANDOR MESSAGE THEMES In ‘Flow’, there are ample themes which include; persecution, power and unity. It is a flood as a literal and symbolic tool for depicting the unpredictable and inevitable change in life and the need to accept change as a basic life process. Despite the somewhat melancholic and self-reflective mood occasionally picked up by dramatic narrative beats, the overall thematic outlook decisive and hopeful when the characters turn to one another for company.

Like many modern TV series, ‘Flow’ is not focused on the voice acting and dialogue but rather on the deep meaning represented through the spectacular animation. All anatomical characters are depicted unique and with appropriate scores for their uniqueness and qualities. The lack of commentary brings the movie to a state of real life so one has to feel and conclude the relationships of the characters seeing what they do rather than hearing what they need to say.

Director Gints Zilbalodis shines in his strategic vision to create dialogue-less movie. With subtlety and intelligence he drives the narrative while also providing insight into the art of ethereal wordlessness.

The music is also another element in effective making of this animated piece. Time is also notable, as it helps to regulate the emotional subline of the story telling process and is very close to being a character. The experience is a smooth shift from visual to audio as they are taken deeper into the post-flooded world of ‘Flow’.

The visuals in ‘Flow’ are stunning, everything seems to have been done to give the vivid view of the world that exists after the flood. Every frame is gorgeous bringing expansive wide shots of the beautiful nature and intimate close-ups of the protagonists and their world interacting with nature in this strange world they inhabit.

’Flow’ enchants with awesome attention to detail and imagination of the locations depicted in the movie. Thus, in ‘Flow’ every single picture starting from the dark clouds of the flood and ending up with a light, recently created, water world fits into the overall atmosphere enhancing the concept of this unreal but beautifully formed watery world.

Special effects improve the film: powers, hand-drawn and digital animation are blended perfectly, the whole idea of the fairy tale is based on it. The flood sequences are however arresting and could make the audience marvel as well as marvel at the storyline as they are developed.

The aspect of editing in ‘Flow’ is well done to allow a consistent pace in the film, as well as smooth interconnexion between scenes. The absence of words intensifies the concern with visual flow as the editing achieves smooth visual continuity rendering the story with a perfect rhythmical pace.

Pacing in ‘’Flow’’ is slow and systematic enabling every scene to be given enough room to breathe. That enables viewers to embody the genuine communication with the movie’s visuals and emotions, although at times it may seem slow to audiences who are used to watching animated movies.

Actually, the concept of ‘flow’ does not use any dialogue at all, only music and, of course, images. This approach adds to the depth of the movie and allows the viewers to join the story on the bodily level, decode the emotional subtext as they wish.

All in all ‘Flow’ looks and sounds wonderful, and is idea-wise totally fascinating, however the movie is too slow, and the complete lack of the speech might be off-putting to some. The movie requires the viewer to be willing to read between the lines with some of the dogged content, though this might be a problem when decided to watch the movie as a great adventurous or gross action flick.

In summary ‘’Flow’ stands as a classic motion picture, with great appeal to spectacle and sound and the captivating theme of cooperation in an environment containing adversities. Audience can watch a very touching movie plot that forces them to leave the world of reality and immerse themselves into the magical world of the film without words, just gentle music, and be happy about the possibility of being together as a family.