Flow

... because there is no explanation of what is happening whatsoever. There is no narration. The animals do not talk and there are no human characters. All you know is what you see for yourself. It's like a silent film in that regard - You must pay attention to the entire thing.

A cat lives alone in a world devoid of humans. There are signs of past civilization all around - entire cities, amphitheaters, statues, and even a huge statue of a cat that looks like an idol. The cat lives in a house that has the signs of past human habitation all around - there are drawings and models that indicate that whoever lived in the cat's house built the cat statues and was planning to build more.

But then a flood comes one day and the waters rise so high that practically everything is underwater. In this situation a boat comes along and the cat finds himself adrift in that boat with a capybara, a lemur, a dog, and a secretary bird. The boat really isn't adrift though, as all of the animals know how to steer the boat.

One of the more unique things about it is that the creators had the brilliant idea to set the anthropomorphization for the non-human characters to about 25%, instead of the usual 75-100% where the characters might as well be humans in animal costumes. The characters' behaviors in Flow feel entirely natural for their species -- It's just that their intelligence has been enhanced enough to allow them greater self-reflection and interspecies communication. It's all a very refreshing take versus Disney and Pixar films.

This world the film inhabits seems to be a post-human one, but I wonder. My read is that at some point shortly before the events of the film, humans became animals. The human owner of the sculptor's cottage didn't disappear. The cat is the sculptor. Also note how, before the flood, the cat wanders during the day, but at night comes home to the sculptor's house and sleeps in a human bed - the kind of thing that humans do. But that's my take. You decide.

I just watched 'Flow' and I'm still reeling from the experience. This movie is a game-changer, with its breathtaking visuals, captivating storyline, and outstanding performances.

I loved how 'Flow' seamlessly blends action, drama, and sci-fi elements to create a thrilling narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The special effects are mind-blowing, with stunning sequences that will leave you gasping in awe.

The cast delivers impressive performances, with standout moments . The chemistry between the leads is undeniable, and their interactions are laced with tension, humor, and heart." Flow' is a must-see movie experience that will leave you breathless and inspired. With its cutting-edge visuals, gripping storyline, and exceptional performances, this film sets a new standard for cinematic excellence. Don't miss it!

Flow is a beautifully made animated film that is without words. With the occasional animal sounds, it's almost a silent movie.

During my showing, we had kids and parents present, which was a first for me with this yearly film festival, where the usual is cinephile adults and students. But since this was more kid-friendly, it was intriguing to see how well the movie can keep them engaged without a word spoken. I would say it succeeded in most aspects. There was one kid who was locked in throughout the whole film and would often ask questions of his mother.

One of the things I appreciate about Flow is that it could have easily made the animals talk and hired famous people to voice them. I imagine Chris Pratt and Awkwafina would be available as they always are. But I'm glad they didn't.

Every animal has clear characteristics and personalities - communicated through posture, attitude, or character ticks. One is the leader type. The other is naive and childlike, or the other is sassy. I mean, it must be when telling a story.

Speaking of the story, the key conflict these animals face is a gigantic flood that takes over the land. There are plenty of suspenseful moments when it comes to the water, such as the rising water, and there isn't any space left to keep you above water. Or whenever one of the animals accidentally falls in, there's that worry of one of them drowning, and you're almost yelling for them to get back on.

With this flood, we don't know what year the film takes place. The only hints we are given of its time are man-made empty wooden boats that the animals jump on to avoid drowning. There are also houses, suggesting that humans are around, but we never see them. We are left with the animals, but like humans, they need each other to survive.

Overall rating: a beautiful, animated adventure and one of the most unique animated films of 2024. We are engaging with it much differently, which is without dialogue or humans, just us interrupting the story, the setting, and our critter characters.

Some kids won't click with it, but I know some will.

An incredibly beautiful film. Goosebumps. Tears. A unique concept, without words but with dialogue. With sounds and music that make your heart beat faster.

For the first time ever, I sat and couldn't get up when the credits started rolling. I had to focus on them for a moment to see who made this magic happen, and to blink away emotions from my eyes. Even the team's dogs are mentioned in the credits. And then suddenly, a surprise - another scene after the credits!

Now I feel like reading everything that I can find about the film, getting stills as my desktop and phone wallpaper, and have just ordered their Cat t-shirt.

This is a masterpiece that I can't wait to see again!

The world today isn't exactly something that gives you hope for the future.

This movie is about a time when humans are (seemingly) gone. So in that way, it doesn't really give you hope either.

But...

Earth isn't just humans. It's full of animals that sometimes just live together in some sort of harmony. Granted. This movie makes it seem like it's so easy for them to live together across species. That part is somewhat silly. But the movie is done in a way that the animals are somewhat humanized. And the way they interact together gives me a bit of hope for earth. Not humans. Earth will be fine. As for humans, that remains to be seen.

But this movie is a small wonder that will make you smile and enjoy about 1½ hour of happiness.