Diving into "Flow"
- Maia Labbe
- Apr 16, 2025
- 3 min read
"Flow" is a Latvian indie film made entirely using a free software that won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film of 2024.
I've seen it three going on four times. I may or may not have watched it twice while writing this. Every single time, it has made me cry.
When I first went to see it, I wasn't all that excited. I had been wanting to watch "Wicked," but my dad absolutely refused to see it with me. So, instead, we saw "Flow."
At the time, I didn't even realize it had been nominated. I thought it was just going to go under the radar because it doesn't meet the standards of modern animation.
The film has no dialogue and honestly looks more like a video game than a movie. Despite this, it is an astoundingly beautiful and surprisingly complex film that primarily explores the themes of life, death and rebirth.
There is a lot to unpack within this story. It is rich with symbolism, most of which probably went right over my head. But, to put it simply, "Flow" is about a fish out of water, or actually a cat in water. Maybe both?
It follows a ragtag group of animals, with a focus on the cat, as they fight to survive in a natural disaster.
"Flow" transcends language barriers. It's message is clear and impactful to anyone who watches.
In fact, I've been seeing videos of cats watching the movie, and you can tell that they understand it and are immersed in it.
I tested it out on my roommates cat, Laurie, and he actually watched it. He has a short attention span, so he was in and out of the room, but it clearly caught his eye.
Animal Behavior
Though the film has a fantastical feel to it, it is, in many ways, realistic, especially with the animal behavior. It does not attempt to anthropomorphize the animals at all.
I can't say much about the birds or the lemur or even the capybara, but I do know a lot about the cat.
The creators went above and beyond with how they animated it. They didn't just include the well known behavioral patterns like wagging the tail or hunching the back. They animated the micro expressions.
When the cat is playing or hunting, it's pupils dilate. When it's scared or anxious, it pants, though barely noticeable.
The filmmakers also included the funny and cute behaviors we see in most felines.
Personally, I love the scene when the cat intentionally knocks over one of the lemurs prized possessions, then just walks away like nothing happened.
I was reminded of my own cat, Savannah, whenever it would get caught doing something 'embarrassing' and try to play it off and act cool.
The creators did an amazing job of acknowledging common behaviors that make the animal recognizable without solely using them to characterize it.
Character Development
"Flow" doesn't fall into the trap that I think we see in many movies featuring cats. Often, feline characters aren't that dynamic. They tend to be caricatures.
I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing. Many of these characters are iconic and beloved. I would never want Garfield or Tom Cat to change. It's just refreshing to see a movie that puts so much effort into creating a realistic and unique personality for a cat.
Still, as I said before, it sticks to common feline behaviors, but allows the character to adapt, which it is forced to do in a violently changing environment.
At the beginning of the film, the cat is skittish and independent. The opening scene shows it curiously staring at it's reflection in a pool of water before it is distracted and scared off by a rabbit.
Throughout the story, the cat must face many adversities that challenge its way of life. It's forced to embrace its fears rather than let them control it. It learns that while there are things to fear in this world, there are also things that will help it and stand by its side.
The film does not create a utopia for this animal. It must face death and violence and learn to accept them.
We see the cat gradually transform albeit against its will. It slowly adjusts to its foreign environment, eventually showing signs of comfort. It learns to trust the animals around it enough to sleep peacefully and act playful.
By the end of the movie, the cat traverses the unknown confidently, tail held high. It gazes upon its reflection once more, this time surrounded by family.
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