For rent on Apple TV and Amazon Prime
In 1993, a popular and unusual computer game called Myst was released. In this mystery game, the player explores a small island to find clues and solve puzzles to determine the story of what happened there before his arrival. The game features little dialogue and even less direct exposition, encouraging the player to engross themselves in the satisfaction of unraveling the mystery with their own fortitude and volition.
Today's subject, a Latverian/French animated feature film titled Flow, not only reminds me of that classic computer game but is equally mysterious and engrossing in its own way. With no dialogue, a reliance on proper visual storytelling, and an amazingly human camera (more on that in a moment), Flow is undoubtedly my personal contender for Best Animated Feature of 2024. (Seriously, if this film loses at the Oscars to Disney's Wish, Disney has indeed taken over Hollywood, and all will be lost!) Wait, was that my out loud voice?
The story follows a black cat going about its life, surviving in a world seemingly devoid of humans. One day, a mysterious flood forces the little feline away from its home, only to find salvation in a small boat with a handful of other animals, including a regal bird and a helpful dog (among others). Together, they will learn to get along with each other as they make their way toward a collection of tall, slender mountains. Their journey will make them explore the strange world they have and discover the connection they all share.
What I find most intriguing about this film is its animation style. The film appears to deliberately utilize a more limited palette of data, resulting in an aesthetic that may not look as polished as a high-end Disney film but is more rough and gritty and, therefore, more relatable and, dare I say, human.
Speaking of "human," the most fantastical aspect of the film is the camera. While the visuals are stunning and gorgeous in their own right, the camera truly sells the presentation: it moves and observes the action with genuine human-style movement, going for a naturalistic handheld style that feels human without coming off as too shakey or artificial. It would not surprise me if the filmmakers took notes from PIXAR's best cinematographer, Patrick Lin, who pioneered the technology for such camera movement in animation.
The animal characters are especially intriguing. They all have distinct and relatable personalities while retaining their more expected animalistic tendencies. And yet, with everything that happens in the film, they feel more human and relatable than one might have expected.
Flow is a beautiful, thoughtful, and enriching experience that deserves to be seen. There may be a few times here and there when it can drag for just a little bit, but never to the point of making you question the motivation or point behind its choices. This story is about people, feelings, friendship, and our small place in the world and how we can all make it worthwhile by being kind and open with each other. I challenge you to watch this film and not have some kind of visceral emotional response in some way. Even animals can understand the importance of empathy.
Unquestionably worthy of your time and money.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
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