The Silent Journey of the Little Black Cat in “Flow”
Gints Zilbalodis’ mesmerizing animated film, Flow, portrays the adventure of a small black cat navigating a flooded post-apocalyptic world devoid of humans. The cat embarks on a boat, encounters various animals, and drifts through the rising waters, creating a captivating and tense journey with remarkable animal animation. Despite the absence of dialogue, the emotional depth of the creature characters shines through as they explore this eerie abandoned landscape.
Traces of Human Existence in a Desolate World
While there are no humans visible in Flow, subtle remnants of their presence can be found throughout the film’s setting, such as houses, boats, and structures. The poignant starting point for our feline protagonist in an abandoned house, complete with a cozy bed and depictions of cats, suggests a connection to a former human companion.
The Mystery of Vanished Humanity
Prior to the wide release of the movie, Zilbalodis shared with Polygon his deliberate choice to leave clues hinting at the fate of the missing humans in the world of Flow. While not explicitly outlining their whereabouts, he crafted the environment to insinuate that humans were aware of the recurring floods. The presence of a boat in a tree symbolizes past floods, indicating that people likely evacuated but may still exist elsewhere in this altered world.
Symbolism in the Abandoned City
As the animal ensemble masters the sailboat’s navigation using a rudder, their journey leads them to a distant collection of towers amidst the flooded landscape. Upon discovering an abandoned city, Zilbalodis explains that the architectural designs were influenced by the inhabitants’ knowledge of the flooding phenomena. The city’s structures serve as symbols of individuals seeking refuge from floods by building upwards.
Capturing Character Depth Through Setting
Originally conceived as a short film during Zilbalodis’ high school days, Flow evolved into a feature-length project with added layers of human-related elements. The filmmaker aimed to enhance character development by incorporating intricate architecture for the animal cast to interact with, fostering deeper emotional moments within the narrative.
Flow is now available widely following a successful limited theatrical run in select cities.