I don’t do film reviews usually, but Flow is a bit special.
Made in Lithuania, I believe; it picked up the Oscar for best animated feature — and having watched it twice and being equally moved the second time round, I can see why.
Flow is a short film (well, short by today’s standards anyway) that follows the adventures of a small black cat trying to escape a flood. On his perilous journey, he encounters a handful of creatures whom he barely tolerates but allows to join him in his attempt to flee the rising waters.
There are no people and no dialogue. The animals (the cat, a labrador, an injured bird, a capybara, and a lemur) carry the entire movie on their own. There’s peril a plenty, along with some genuinely sad and spectacular moments.
And the ending won’t leave a dry eye in the house.
Through some stunning animation and artwork and an incredibly well-written story, Flow teaches us a simple, vital lesson: regardless of our differences, we’re better off together.
Film of the year.