A cat, water, and a friendly capybara
06 September 2024
The Latvian animated film Flow (2024) tells the story of a cat at a time when the world seems to be coming to an end as a sudden flood begins. As independent as cats are, this particular one is challenged to cooperate with others, very different from its own kind, making unlikely acquaintances along the way, including a capybara. It’s a magical journey through a beautiful fantasy world and a story about friendship. Also - there is no dialogue, apart from a cat meowing and a few capybara grunts.
Flow is the second film from Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis, and it seems to be heading straight for the Oscars as it plays festivals around the world, including Cannes, New Zealand and, this week, the Toronto International Film Festival, receiving undivided attention from audiences.
 | Liene Lūsīte Zilbalodis's first film, Away (2019), also an animation, which he made single-handedly from script to soundtrack, immediately putting the director in the spotlight of film lovers. I went to the premiere of Flow in Riga and had the chance to hear the director himself talk about it. Just like the main character in the film, he said that this time he too had to learn to work in a team, including an entire symphony orchestra. |
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