Flow Review

December 17th, 2024

As much as I like to participate in the popular culture conversation (and, boy, do I ever), I also like to highlight stuff that you would probably miss otherwise.

Even though it's been the talk of the animation world, collecting awards and getting nominated for a Golden Globe, most people I've talked to haven't heard of Flow, the best film I've seen this year. (An exception is my friend Nick, who I excitedly spoke to about this one before I saw it this morning.)

I can't really describe it. That's part of its magic.

Basically, it's about a cat who endures a global flood. The cat meets other animals during its ordeal, and they try to survive together. The world they inhabit appears to have once had humans, but not anymore. I don't know why. Nothing is explained to you, because there isn't a single line of dialogue in the entire movie. It's just the animals, their actions, and the environment.

People usually call something art because it isn't very entertaining, but this is the rare thing that is both and does both well. I was completely lost in it. I know I love animals more than most, but the attention to detail in this film is astounding.

It's a hard movie to find. I had to see it at 11:50 am at Southdale, the closest screening to me and the only one they have all day. It starts streaming in January.

If you're looking for something dazzling, challenging, charming, thought- and heart-provoking, with more existential questions before the credits than answers, then this is the movie for you. It's going to stay with me for a while.

Btw, when they make Theia into a film, I would like the filmmakers to watch this and take notes.