FLOW is this year’s version of ROBOT DREAMS. Both films examine the feeling of isolation and how friendship can make life worth living. Outside the story, the main difference between the two is FLOW’s video game-inspired animation style. This film resembles a walking simulator (THAT DRAGON, CANCER, STRAY, FIREWATCH, and more). I wouldn’t be surprised if FLOW’s lovable protagonist (a black cat) eventually becomes the star of a future video game.
FLOW’s plot pays homage to Noah’s Ark at its most basic function but with zero humans. Each animal has its quirks as it dives into the depths of the water. And the action during those sequences is some of the best animation, if not the best, of 2024 (although I still adored THE WILD ROBOT overall more).
Where FLOW loses its “flow” is in the story department. There’s not much here. It’s animals on a boat with symbolic, literal reflections that might mean something but are purposely left vague for the viewer’s interpretation. It worked for me, but I could see some audience members wanting more in the way of the film’s story.
FLOW is unlike anything you’ve seen before. Go into it with an open mind and heart, and you will fall in love with the animals in director Gints Zilbalodis’s visually stunning exploration of the value of having a community.
It’s available in theaters.
