“Flow” is a stunningly animated film that explores the power of community and going with the flow when faced with troubling times. The Latvian animated film premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and then had a very limited theatrical release in the U.S. in November and December of 2024. The film won Best Animated Feature Film at the 2025 Golden Globes and is now nominated for Best Animated Feature and Best International Feature Film at the 2025 Academy Awards. “Flow” is now streaming on Max.
The film follows a cat who struggles to survive as its home gets flooded. The cat is rescued by a very chill capybara in a sailboat and they are soon joined by a greedy lemur, an excitable dog, and a wise secretary bird. The improbable group of animals must venture across the flooded lands on their boat as they adapt to their new environment.
The animation of the film is gorgeous and whimsical, perfectly capturing the mannerisms of the different animals to help tell the surrealist story in an eye-catching way. Despite being animated, the characters feel very realistic as all of the animal sounds were recorded from actual animals. If you’re a fan of animals I can guarantee you’ll love this movie as it perfectly encapsulates the personalities of different animals, though if you’re a cat lover it will break your heart anytime the cat is even slightly sad or anxious (but don’t worry the cat remains unharmed).
The film has no dialogue which is impressive as it still tells a comprehensive story while giving each character a distinct personality. This lack of dialogue in the film also goes to show that communication and storytelling can defy language barriers. The audience evidently can’t actually understand what the animals are “saying” throughout the film, but we are able to interpret their body language, tone and facial expressions to help guide the story. I think this exemplifies the power of storytelling as it is so much more than just dialogue.
While the plot is simplistic, it is still engaging for the audience and is surprisingly deep and meaningful. The film shows life will always throw unexpected twists at you but that you can get through it with the support of others. It also exemplifies that the best way to get through these twists and turns is to go with the flow, hence the title of the film. This is a positive and powerful message that people of all ages can resonate with when watching the film.
The success and acclaim of this film shows smaller independent films like “Flow” should be given a bigger spotlight, especially when they are first released. It’s a shame this film didn’t get a bigger theatrical release in the U.S. as I think the movie would have been stunning on the big screen. Despite this limited release, the film’s success shows that independent films can be successful and should be given equal opportunities to be seen in theaters as their big-name counterparts since I’m sure there are many people who would have loved to see this film on the big screen.
Overall, this is a very cute, yet deep, film that is perfect for animal lovers. If you’re looking for a cozy movie to watch, I would highly recommend “Flow.”
