To get the capybara sound, the sound engineer had to travel to a zoo and tickle capybaras
Plot
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.. The team was very adamant in getting all of the "voices" be done by real animals, so they recorded real animals for the movie. However, the real capybara sounds didn’t match the personality that the capybara character would have, so instead they used a baby camel for this one.. "Flow," the latest work from Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis, is one of those rare films that transcends the need for dialogue and speaks directly to the soul.
Unlike the hyper-realism often seen in Hollywood productions, "Flow" embraces a visual style that blends natural elements with graphic artistry
With stunning visuals and a narrative that radiates humanity in a world devoid of humans, the movie is a testament to cinema's power to tell universal stories.The plot follows a black cat, a solitary survivor on a post-human planet seemingly healing from humanity's scars. The feline's journey is both physical and symbolic: it must leave the safety of its island—marked by decayed monuments and submerged ruins—and embark on a voyage of collaboration and self-discovery. Watching the cat navigate this journey is a meditative and visually hypnotic experience, with Zilbalodis delivering sequences that oscillate between tranquil introspection and genuine tension.One of the film's greatest strengths lies in its stylized animation. The interplay of light with the textures of water, foliage, and animal fur creates an effect that is simultaneously dreamlike and visceral.
The central metaphor-the need to abandon ego in favor of collectivity-is subtly woven throughout the story
This approach immerses the audience in the film's world without feeling like a forced simulation of reality. Each scene feels like a living painting, meticulously composed yet retaining a sense of spontaneous wonder.Narratively, the film adopts a simplicity reminiscent of a classic fable. As other animals join the cat on its boat, such as the sleepy capybara, the optimistic Labrador, and the restless lemur, the journey transforms into an exploration of coexistence. Each character is animated to reflect their unique traits, from the cat's sharp curiosity to the imposing bird's commanding presence.
Minimalist and atmospheric, it perfectly complements the film's richly detailed soundscape
Their interactions—whether delicate gestures like sharing food or moments of conflict—form the emotional core of the story."Flow" takes a bold step by opting for a dialogue-free narrative, a choice that, for the most part, enhances the cinematic experience. While this approach may slightly soften the emotional intensity in certain scenes, it underscores the universality of the story and lets the visuals take center stage. The film's symbolism, such as the recurring image of the animals' reflections on the water, is both striking and accessible, offering straightforward interpretations while inviting deeper exploration of its layers.The score, composed by Zilbalodis in collaboration with Rihards Zalupe, is another standout element. The sporadic use of music, rather than constant accompaniment, heightens the impact of silence, creating an immersive and meditative experience.Ultimately, "Flow" is a meditation on our connection to the natural world and to one another.
