FLOW is a paragon of virtue. This animated film gives viewers every reason to go to the cinema or watch it on television. It tells the story of a cat who, surrounded by tsunami water, overcomes his distrust and shyness and teams up with other animals to survive. It's not a story that anthropomorphizes the animals; on the contrary, their movements clearly reveal their wild nature, and that's the primary reason to see this film. The charm of the feline gait is evident to cat lovers as well as to those who consider themselves immune to their presence. This is thanks to the talent of the French and Belgian animators who have achieved a naturalistic style while imbuing the characters with intelligence and affection. In the film, no one speaks; all the sounds are those of the animals and their environment. And the truth is, words aren't necessary because, like a family pet, the animals in the film say everything without speaking. In other words, the film captivates because of the soul that the artists have breathed into their characters.

The next reason to watch FLOW is technical. Let me explain: animated films use sophisticated and expensive computer programs that allow animators to move the characters, build the sets, light them, add textures, and even use a virtual camera to record the film. In the case of FLOW, the program used is free and allows a large community of programmers and artists worldwide to continuously improve it. The software is called Blender and is considered "free and open source." This multi-award-winning film is a powerful endorsement of the low-budget animated film industry. It demonstrates that understanding the capabilities of the available tools, having the skill to use them, and possessing a good story to tell, all contribute to the success of a film project, just as FLOW does.

The reason that makes FLOW one of the best films of 2024, rivaling even exquisite works like THE WILD ROBOT, is the message it tries to convey to its audience. Its director is Gints Zilbalodis, a Latvian artist who finds in the absence of a human language for his characters a way to achieve universality. In a world where simply seeing each other is enough to understand one another and resolve the mutual needs imposed by the cataclysm of the tsunami, Zilbalodis brings together those who would otherwise be enemies or irredeemable predators to save their lives. Thus, distances and barriers give way to shared projects, without happiness being easily attained, nor death being absent, but allowing the lives of the living to continue even when everything seems to be falling apart.