Over the years, many have tried to create post-apocalyptic worlds worth viewing. “Flow,” however, has managed to achieve this goal captivatingly well. In this wordless, animal-centered film created in the free computer graphics software Blender, Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis created one of the best movies of 2024.

Zilbalodis’ works are often one-man productions, but his movie “Flow” was the first time he worked with a (admittedly small) team. “Flow,” despite its notably low budget and indie film title, wonderfully demonstrates the importance of life and experience. The simplistic choices Zilbalodis makes as director, co-writer, co-producer, editor, art director, cinematographer and co-music creator allows the film to stand out amongst other animated 2024 films, earning it a several awards including but not limited to a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film, a European Film Award for Best Animated Feature Film and a New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Animated Film.

The film begins with an unnamed solitary black cat—the movie’s protagonist—who gets hit with and escapes a calamitous flood. The story focuses on the cat’s journey where it learns how to navigate the post-apocalyptic world, picking up other companions on its trip.

Dialogue serves as an important part of many films, but Zilbalodis’ ability to emphasize non-verbal communication such as animals’ body language and facial expressions makes up for and exceeds the impact that dialogue could have had on the film. None of Zilbalodis’ films use dialogue, and his comfort with non-verbal cues is apparent and beautifully pays off. The characteristics and movements that the animals display highlights the different personalities they have while closely replicating the movements of their real life counterparts. The protagonist cat, most notably, has an untrusting, cautious and easily startled personality, portrayed through tail movements, facial expressions and body movements just as a cat would in real life. A fascinating choice Zilbalodis makes is, rather than anthropomorphizing the animals, he instead chooses (as he does in all of his works) to go wordless. It allows audiences to focus on the aforementioned movements and the lively atmosphere the animators created.

The animals’ bonds develop over the course of the admittedly short 85-minute runtime. Though the individual characters’ stories proved underdeveloped as a result of the short film length, the relationships between them and their surroundings serves as a key element in the film’s success. Zilbalodis’ works often center around relationships, and “Flow” is no different. The initially untrusting protagonist learns and grows into one who learns how to care for its companions, albeit in a way that differs from the other animals’ forms of care. The characters learn from each other and teach each other lessons, and, for instance, the cat and dog learn to find a middle ground between their overly trusting and extremely untrusting characteristics. The relationships between the animals and nature—such as the cat and the water’s connection which Zilbalodis uses as a hurdle for the feline to overcome that ultimately turns into a reflection of the cat’s feelings—are brilliantly executed.

Zilbalodis used Blender, a free 3D computer graphics software program, to create the film, breathing a new life into the animation scene and allowing for a fresh experience among audiences. The animated scenery—the cat statue, forest backgrounds and most notably the water—are gorgeously done, and the lighting and perspective that Zilbalodis employs allows Blender’s abilities to truly shine. The vibrant colors communicate a story in itself, and the serene and seemingly untouched settings enhance the beauty of nature and remind audiences that they take such beauty for granted.

Though there is realism in the characters’ personalities and movements, realism is not Zilbalodis’ goal; instead, he is not wholly depicting nature but interpreting it. Taking some artistic liberties (and physical ones, as demonstrated by the animals’ ability to steer a boat) allows the movie to shine further by including a sense of mystery and possible reminder of these creatures’ intellect.

The music—done by Zilbalodis and Rihards Zaļupe—is beautifully well-placed within scenes, and the songs’ moods fit perfectly with the scenes and atmosphere that the film portrays. Zilbalodis’ lack of musical knowledge led Zaļupe to assist, and together—alongside an orchestra—brought to life a beautifully performed score that directed audiences in their emotions. The score and sound design enhance the film tenfold, and the sound design in specific—proving difficult for sound designer Gurwal Cöic-Gallas as he cannot hide any sounds behind dialogue and, occasionally, a score—immerses the audience in its world.

The film trusts audiences to understand the theme told in “Flow,” and opts to avoid explaining the events’ reasonings and causes to enhance the experience.

“Flow” explores the concept of life through its story. Similar to a cataclysmic flood, one cannot manipulate or control life. Instead, just as the animals’ journey demonstrated, life is something to be journeyed through, explored and adored with the right mindsets. “Flow” is a film that highlights the importance of experience and the significance of focusing on the journey and the flowing path of life.

“Flow” released with overwhelmingly positive reviews on Oct. 30, 2024. The film 97% on Rotten Tomatoes by critics and a 99% on Rotten Tomatoes by general audience members. The movie is in theaters now and is available to rent or buy on Apple TV, Prime Video, Fandango at Home and others.

This story was originally published on Lantern on January 24, 2025.