Director Gints Zilvalodis’s second feature-length animated film [Flow] is a long epic tale woven together with images and sounds. As the first animation from Latvia to win both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, it shows the desolation of a post-apocalyptic world with a sense of wonder. The film follows the journey of a cat and depicts with startling delicacy the tenacity of life and the nature of existence in a world of rough waters after a great flood.

At the center of the film is a message about “coexistence.” When everything has been flooded and the vestiges of humanity have vanished, animals are wary of each other in the midst of all-powerful nature. As they gradually overcome their fears in their efforts to survive, the film conveys the values of solidarity and community. The frame is filled with both tension and calm, and the animals struggling for survival present us with fundamental questions about the nature of life and the meaning of existence.

This film was made almost entirely by the director himself, much like his previous work [Away]. From writing the scenario to editing the film, he worked on each step personally to bring his vision to the screen in this amazing achievement. His minimal melodies draw out our emotions as each scene unfolds like a watercolor painting in motion. The film transcends visual entertainment and offers a deeper artistic experience that captures the viewer’s attention in a wholly immersive way.

On the surface, [Flow] seems to borrow the imagery of a natural disaster, but in truth it is closer to an inner journey and exploration of the nature of existence. It breaks from the conventions of language to build a narrative out of imagery and music, finely blending together the director’s delicate artistic sensibility and technical experimentation in a singularly original endeavor. It shows us the artistic horizons that can be achieved with the medium of animation. [Flow] can’t be described as merely “beautiful,” but rather it is a mighty visual feast that shows the artistic possibilities of animation. 

Jinny Hyejin CHOO