A Story Without Dialogue
The film tells its entire story through animal behavior, movement, sound and music, without spoken dialogue.
Movie
Flow
Disaster tore their world apart. Friendship will bring them together.
A solitary cat, displaced by a great flood, finds refuge on a boat with various species and must navigate the challenges of adapting to a transformed world together.
Why it's in the Vault
Flow is a breathtaking reminder that cinema does not need a single spoken word to create an unforgettable experience. Seen on the big screen, its immense flooded landscapes, shimmering reflections, mysterious ruins and extraordinary sense of movement become a genuine visual revelation. Gints Zilbalodis trusts the language of images completely: the smallest movement of a cat's ears, the shifting currents and the cautious interactions between animals carry an entire emotional journey. There is no forced dialogue, no unnecessary explanation and no attempt to turn these creatures into miniature humans. The sound design and evocative music deepen the immersion, allowing fear, curiosity and solidarity to emerge naturally. Its contemplative pacing may not appeal equally to everyone, but the sheer beauty and confidence of its storytelling are remarkable. A visually stunning, deeply immersive animated adventure that feels especially powerful in a cinema.
— Matty, Curator of the Vault
Atmosphere
Immersive, contemplative, mysterious, tender, majestic
Visual wonder
Immersive contemplation
Survival tension
Emotional tenderness
Contains animal peril, flooding, storms, frightening situations, separation and emotionally intense scenes. Some sequences may upset sensitive younger viewers.
Dans les coulisses
Ce qu'on ne voit pas à l'écran
Created with Blender
The independent production used the free, open-source 3D animation software Blender.
A Historic Oscar for Latvia
Flow became the first Latvian film to win an Academy Award when it received Best Animated Feature in 2025.
A Director Who Previously Worked Alone
Gints Zilbalodis made his earlier feature Away largely by himself, whereas Flow was created with an international team.
Animals That Remain Animals
The director deliberately avoided giving his characters human speech, clothing or upright human-like movement.
Music Recognized at Annecy
Gints Zilbalodis and Rihards Zaļupe received the 2024 Annecy award for Best Original Music for a Feature Film.
Aux origines
An original story by Gints Zilbalodis and Matīss Kaža
Palette
Les couleurs du film
Floodwater Blue#517D8B
Black Cat Charcoal#292F35
Submerged Ruins Stone#A5ADA4
Emerald Forest#537B66
Golden Horizon#D9B77D
Misty Sky Grey#BAC9C9
Images
