Flow, a new 3D animated film, directed by Gints Zilbalodis, on limited release in the US from 22nd November 2024, has been picking up critical acclaim, and several awards.
In the dialogue-free film, which, unfortunately, doesn’t yet have a scheduled UK release, the world seems to be coming to an end, teeming with the vestiges of a human presence. Cat is a solitary animal, but as its home is devastated by a great flood, he finds refuge on a boat populated by various species, and will have to team up with them despite their differences.
In the lonesome boat sailing through mystical overflowed landscapes, they navigate the challenges and dangers of adapting to this new world.
Flow – initially titled “Stream” (“Straume” in Latvian), is a stunning, totally dialogue free film, a collaborative effort that brings together the creative forces of Belgium, Latvia, and France. It was written and directed by Gints Zilbalodis and co-written and produced by Matīss Kaža. The director of animation was Léo Silly-Pélissier.
Based on one of his first short films, Aqua, Zilbalodis also serves as the project’s graphic artist and composer.
“Everything started with the cat,” Zilbalodis says of the film’s origins and flood mythos, in an interview for Cineuropa. “He’s an individualistic and independent creature reluctantly accepting others. Now, he must learn to get along and collaborate with other animals.
“The flood is not necessarily a reference to any specific mythology; it began with a desire to show the cat’s fear. So, it’s something simple and personal, rather than being grandiose or referential. Still, these floods serve as a metaphor for a catastrophe that disrupts daily routines and obliges us to change.”
Recently screened at the Toronto Film Festival, its wider release has been eagerly awaited following the cult success of Zilbalodis’ first feature, Away, released in 2019, which he wrote and animated single-handed.
It was selected to premiere in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in May, where it gained much critical praise, not least from director Guillermo del Toro, who was particularly effusive in his praise.
“If I could wish for the future of animation, these images would be its magnificent, breathtaking start,” he commented on X.
Flow was subsequently awarded the Jury Award, the Audience Award, and the Gan Foundation Award for Distribution in the Feature Film category, at the 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. In August, it won the Bright Horizons Special Jury Award at the Melbourne International Film Festival.
Latvia has also chosen Flow as its entry in the best international feature category for the 2025 Oscars, selected as their entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards next year.
The 2025 Oscars shortlists will be announced on 17th December, with nominations on 17th January.The 97th Academy Awards will take place on 2nd March.
“The animation is nothing short of mesmerising,” one early reviewer enthused. “The film’s visual language is a feast for the eyes, with each frame meticulously crafted to create a world that is both fantastical and grounded in reality. The attention to detail in the character design and the fluidity of the animation is a testament to the skill and dedication of the animation team.”
“At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, there’s something about the purity of great animated storytelling that can shatter your heart and then make it whole again. (Think Toy Story 3),” noted Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney. “… Flow, is that kind of marvel, a vividly experiential white-knuckle survival adventure that takes place in a world on the brink of ruin.”
• Flow will open in New York and Los Angeles on 22nd November and expand nationwide in the weeks that follow via Janus Films and Sideshow | Official Site: flow.movie | Facebook | Instagram
• Follow Gints Zilbalodis on X | YouTube
Interviews
• Cineuropa: Gints Zilbalodis • Director of Flow
“Creating a sense of hand-made artistry was crucial”
• Festival de Cannes: Flow, as seen by Gints Zilbalodis
“The cat was very hard to work with. He never arrived on set in time. It was much easier with the dog. Though he required a lot of direction.”
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Animation, downthetubes News, Film, Other Worlds
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