Have you ever watched a film and thought, "Every child needs to see this"?
That’s precisely how I felt about Flow after its screening at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival. This isn’t homework disguised as entertainment, the kind rightfully eschewed in classrooms of yore. Flow vibrates with life, skillfully blending humor and heartbreak, creating a movie experience that’s both vital and necessary.
Latvia’s contender for Best International Film at the Oscars, Flow transcends language barriers, relying entirely on visuals to weave its powerful narrative.
The story unfolds around a curious cat encountering its reflection in a tranquil body of water. But serenity shatters. A pack of dogs gallops past, followed by startled deer, all fleeing from an ominous rush of water. A devastating flood has engulfed the lush rainforest, transforming the cat’s world into a submerged landscape.
While the initial premise—a cat’s struggle for survival in a flooded world—seems straightforward, Flow subtly unravels layers of meaning. As the cat navigates through treacherous currents, encountering other animals who find refuge on its makeshift raft, a chilling reality emerges. The scarcity of other creatures hints at a larger catastrophe; the film doesn’t depict carnage but evokes it, leaving you to contemplate the fate of those who didn’t make it onto the increasingly precarious raft.
Flow isn’t a film that preaches; it observes. Through the cat’s eyes, we witness the delicate balance of nature disrupted. The film invites us to infer the devastating consequences of environmental crisis. Moments of communal necessity reveal a flicker of hope as desperation compels animals to overcome instinctive territoriality, sharing a precarious passage through the ravaged world.
Even as the flood recedes, the sense of unease persists. Another wave approaches, a relentless reminder that the crisis is far from over. The cat, and those who have sought safety with it, are left ever vulnerable, facing an uncertain future.
Flow is more than just a message movie—it’s a cinematic gem that captivates and challenges viewers of all ages. A child might initially be drawn to the adorable cat, but with each viewing, Flow would reveal deeper layers of meaning, prompting reflection on the fragility of our planet and the urgency of addressing climate change.
In a year brimming with exceptional animated entries like Inside Out 2 and The Wild Robot, Flow deserves a spot amongst the Oscar contenders. This visually stunning film, driven by the indomitable spirit of survival, is a powerful testament to the enduring power of cinema to confront challenging themes with grace and artistry.