SwayTake: I Saw the Cat Movie With No Dialogue, Here’s Why You Should Too
I’m not a cinemaphile — I’m just a human who has seen the light. And yes, it is as dramatic as it sounds. You could call me the movie’s unofficial cheerleader at this point, because I will defend the artistry of “Flow” with the ferocity of a cat defending its favorite sunbeam.
I heard that this Latvian movie beat out huge names like Disney for Best Animated Feature at the Golden Globe awards. Personally, I love an underdog story. I also heard that this movie has adorable animals as the main (well, only) characters, so naturally, I had to check it out.
Flow follows a cat during a flood in a mythical land. The cat has to work together with other animals like a golden retriever, a capybara, a lemur and a bird to make it to safety. This movie is a masterpiece in emotional storytelling, and it does all of it without uttering a single word. Really, no words.
The absence of dialogue doesn’t just make this film beautiful, it makes it universal, whether you speak English, Spanish, or dolphin. But don’t worry— it’s not quite a silent film, either. It is full of sounds of nature, rushing water and animal noises so precious you think maaaaaybe there is room for one more pet in your tiny apartment.
There are no humans in this world but it’s clear that there used to be. It doesn’t really explain that part but it does make the cat and dog tendencies that much cuter. Pet owners will understand what I mean.
You know when you watch a movie and you’re immediately like, “I’m just here for the plot”? Well, with Flow, the plot takes a backseat to the connection between the audience and these animals. I became attached. Too attached. I was audibly saying “aww” in a crowded movie theater, and I have no regrets.
From the very first scene, I was completely entranced — lush forests, moving water, colorful fish, majestic mountains, all painted with the kind of cinematography that makes you want to live inside the frame. The animators nailed it, all the way down to the little ear twitches cats do.
If I haven’t lost you with my sappiness yet, I will put out a disclaimer that this movie made me tear up more times than a mother flipping mother flipping through their kids’ baby books — and I’m not a mother, or a big crier. That being said, you should absolutely watch this movie. The overall message is about helping others, even if you have differences. It also kind of hammers home the idea of going with the, heh, flow.
*This is not sponsored but it should be.
**This piece was submitted as a SwayTake, which are anonymous, first-person posts occasionally featured in The Sway. Submit your own at hello@itsthesway.com.
