Director Gints Zilbalodis presents a captivating cinematic experience with "Flow". This movie is not just a cute animal romp featuring an adorable black kitty; it is also a tense adventure set in a strange, post-apocalyptic world. "Flow" stands out as one of Polygon's top 10 movies of 2024 and is the natural evolution of his first film, "Away". Both movies follow main characters on wordless journeys, driven by a determination to reach a destination and escape something.

Dive into a World of Ambiguity and Beauty with "Flow"

Away: The Solo Project

In "Away", director Gints Zilbalodis took on a solo project, handling all aspects - animation, screenwriting, and music. Just like in "Flow", there is no dialogue in "Away". The story is conveyed solely through animation and music. It follows a lone boy as he treks across a mysterious landscape, starting on foot and later on a motorcycle. Initially, he has no specific destination; his only goal is to outpace a large, shadowy figure that seems to drain the life from the creatures it encounters. Eventually, the boy discovers a map and sets off towards what appears to be a human civilization in the distance.The landscapes he encounters are dreamlike and almost empty, except for a few curious animals. The boy befriends a tiny yellow bird with big black eyes that struggles to fly, and this little bird becomes his companion. Along the way, he encounters other normal animals like a fox that wants to hunt the bird, as well as a group of black cats that gather by a well and a parade of elephants slowly crossing a mirror-like lake. The natural world is beautiful, familiar yet with just enough strangeness to add an eerie layer.

Themes and Ambiguity in "Away"

Zilbalodis excels at keeping plot details ambiguous in "Away". We never fully learn what happened to the boy, what the shadowy figure is, or where he is ultimately going. This ambiguity doesn't detract from the story; in fact, it makes it feel more like a dream. We are dropped into this surreal world, and the only certainty is that the boy must not let the shadow figure catch him. Through the boy's dreams and the setting details, we get hints about what's happening, but Zilbalodis never reveals everything, enhancing the movie's ethereal vibes. By withholding dialogue, he focuses our attention on the setting details and character movements, weaving in the themes with a subtlety that is truly remarkable.

The Similar Energy in "Flow" and "Away"

Although "Away" isn't intentionally a prequel, there is a similar energy that runs through both "Flow" and "Away". There is an existential loneliness that permeates both films. They are both about two small figures traversing vast landscapes - worlds that are both familiar and yet different enough to be deliberately off-putting - desperately trying to outrun the inevitable. "Away" shines in this regard as it feels even more isolated. Despite finding some companionship, the boy in "Away" is the only human we see. His only hope comes from his shadowy dreams and the promise on the map. It is a stark and stunning portrayal that paves the way for the unlikely friendship in "Flow" to have an even greater impact."Away" is available to watch for free with ads on Tubi. It is a movie that offers a unique and immersive experience, filled with beautiful animation, a captivating story, and a sense of mystery that keeps the audience engaged from start to finish.