There is a deceptive simplicity in To flow. The premise of this animated film sounds familiar: a ragtag band of animals band together to survive a terrible threat. But part of what makes co-writer/director Gints Zilbalodis' film so sensational is its delicate rejection of American cartoon clichés.
Although the premise of this film may seem Madagascar, Ice Age, The life of an insect, Or Zootopia or any number of cute, kid-oriented animated adventures, To flow refuses to turn its animals into wacky characters, perfectly suited to lunch boxes and stuffed toys. Zilbalodis’ furry heroes don’t have big, bulging eyes or fancy clothes. They aren’t voiced by A-list actors. They don’t speak a human language at all. This gaggle of critters meows or whines or clucks or chirps. And they don’t move with anthropomorphic style, but with realistic anatomy and act like their real-life cohorts would.
While Zilbalodis strives for authenticity in the physicality of his creatures, he rejects the photorealism of — for example — Disney's live-action remake The Lion King. Instead, it creates To flow with a digital painting style that leans toward the abstract. Every hair, feather, or scale will not be carefully rendered to impress the audience with this work. His animals are made up of patches of color that move in light and shadow, effectively grounding them in an uncertain world that is wondrous, dangerous, and theirs.
A breathtakingly beautiful film, To flow tells a story that might enchant children with its stuffed heroes, but will shake adults who can understand the cause of their deadly dilemma.
To flow is a wordless tale about the climate crisis.
This magnificent film, which was selected as Latvia's entry for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film, begins to follow a small black cat as it wanders through the forest in search of food. Small clues suggest that this is not always an outdoor cat, such as the cozy cabin surrounded by lovingly carved wooden statues of the feline. But like the discarded tools and the empty bed, the cat has been abandoned by the human who once lived here. And in this respect, he is not alone.
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A pack of mixed-breed dogs frolics through the forest, awkwardly learning to catch fish from a nearby stream. It's as if a group of dogs from the park had gone astray. But as To flow As the film progresses and the animals encounter more and more handcrafted trinkets and ruined architecture, it becomes clear that this fascinating film is set in a post-human era. Another important clue to this setting is the enormous wall of water that forces the forest animals to flee to higher ground, and eventually onto abandoned boats.
To flow is a parable of reluctant teamwork.
Credit: Courtesy of TIFF
The little cat climbs onto a dented sailboat, where he is annoyed to discover a boat at rest. capybara. Reluctantly, the cat realizes that this large but gentle rodent poses no threat, and a motley crew of sailors begins to form. A chattering lemur, whose tendency to collect trinkets can be a dangerous compulsion, joins them. A majestic crane seizes the helm. A tongue-wagging Golden Retriever jumps aboard, eager to make new friends.
There’s an elegant pleasure in watching these unlikely animal friends bond, and it’s impossible to overlook Zilbalodis’s dedication to staying true to their natures. He doesn’t cheat in these moments of growth; there are some pleasantly predictable squabbles as the animals clash over each other’s idiosyncrasies. For example, the lemur affectionately spreads his loot on the boat seat, which attracts the cat, who naturally crushes a treasure on the ground, much to the lemur’s chagrin. But when moments of crisis arise—whether it’s a predator on the horizon or an obstacle in their path—these animals snap to attention and slowly but surely learn to trust one another.
Visually, it’s very rewarding, because Zilbalodis paints a beautiful world that is broken and yet alive, filled with hope and hard-won harmony. It’s heartwarming to see these creatures (who are in some cases natural enemies) come together not just for a common goal, but for a common bond. And because Zilbalodis rejects so many expectations of animated animals—from their appearance to their movements and sounds— To flow has an exciting spontaneity, as if anything could happen. And what finally happens is epic and moving.
Refusing to flatter his audience, To flow is a poignant, unique, absolutely beautiful, and must-see animated adventure. While it should win Best International Feature, American studios should be more concerned about its chances of winning Best Animated Feature.
To flow was screened at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. The film will be released in U.S. theaters on November 22.
