FLOW
Director: Gints Zilbalodis
QUENTIN
I surely didn’t expect the best film out of Cannes to be a dialogue-free animated movie about a cat and other animals fighting for survival during a flood, yet here we are. With beautiful animation and surprisingly deep characterizations that should embarrass lots of other movies (again, zero dialogue), Flow is a tense, spellbinding, and emotional treatise on the importance of working together. It’s equal parts cute and poignant, appealing to both children and adults alike, especially those who played Stray or enjoy cat videos on YouTube. It’s already one of my favorite animated movies of all time.
NICK
Flow has a lot to say without uttering a single word. This wonderfully animated film follows the journey of Cat and other wildlife as they navigate their way through the flooding of their home. Although there are no human characters, the themes of class, family, and isolation are all prevalent, which leaves a lot of aspects to relate to. Even if you take away that depth, you’re still left with a very cute film about animals (with tons of personality) coming together in the face of disaster. Just like the best animated films, this one is bound to appeal to children and adults alike.
ADRIANO
Flow is simply adorable, but I kinda wanted a little more. The animation is cute, with some beautifully grand visuals occasionally, and its concept is simple enough, featuring a band of animals trying to survive a flood. Plus, at just under 90 minutes, it never overstays its welcome and I did thankfully find myself constantly drawn towards the increasing action of the plot. However, the climate change themes are overshadowed by the "friends along the way" narrative. That all said, with no dialogue at all, Flow wound up being a very endearing watch.
AMARÚ
With our inherent obsession with cute animal videos, what is not to love about the one-of-a-kind experience that is Flow? While it is adorable watching a cat navigate the world’s perils, this masterfully animated feature is so much more than a social media distraction. It’s an absolutely stunning journey that uses themes of empathy, compassion, found family, and the kindness of others to explore the beautifully unforgiving power of nature and the powerfully beautiful resilience of community. Using profound aesthetics from both the natural and mystical world, Flow is sorrowful, heartwarming, magical, and endearing, and it won’t be leaving my thoughts for a long while.
This film was reviewed by Quentin, Nick, and Adriano as part of Bitesize Breakdown's coverage of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, respectively.