Cat’s fantastical journey goes with the ‘Flow’

Easily among the year’s most original films, “Flow” is an extraordinary depiction of a world lost to overflowing water and a few survivors who band together.

These lucky adventurers are animals – a wary cat, frisky white Lab, comically acquisitive lemur, sweetly stoic capybara and an intimidatingly large and aristocratic secretary bird. Not a word of dialogue is spoken

“Flow” is entirely the vision of Latvia’s Gints Zilbalodis, 30, who directs, co-writes and produces.

Latvia’s entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, “Flow” is also eligible for a Best Animated Feature Oscar nomination.

Zilbalodis’ grey cat inspired his film’s feline star whose journey is emotional and physical.

“I wanted to start out being very independent and self-sufficient and force them to figure out ways to collaborate,” Zilbalodis said in unaccented English from Latvia in a Zoom interview.

“The water in the film,” he continued, “represents the cat’s feelings. When the cat is afraid of other animals, the water is very aggressive. But when it starts to open up, the water becomes more peaceful and tranquil.

“The film evolved from that initial idea as focused on the relationships.”

Do cats really deep sea dive, jumping in the water to catch fish and stay alive?

“I’ve seen cats swimming, so I think that’s definitely possible. I guess cats are actually pretty good at swimming; they just don’t enjoy it.

“With the swimming, we can express so much. Like just seeing the cat underwater can be such a striking image in the way it moves.

“When making animated films, movement is something that we really consider, because it can express their character and personality. Through swimming, it can be scary but very graceful as well.  It’s gives us as animators a lot of opportunities.”

There’s a bit of a Noah’s Ark aboard the boat and comic relief as well.

“There have to be moments of hilarity and lightness. But these characters are not telling jokes like people do, or some other talking animal films where these characters would basically become like people.

“I wanted to keep them acting like animals as much as possible. To be very grounded, because that makes it feel more emotional, more intense.

“Because we care more about animals going through this crazy adventure story than if it were people. All of these characters have their funny moments but hopefully it’s not forced.

“It’s to reveal something about them. What they believe. How they react to the world.

“Hopefully, we can relate to all of them. Or at least understand them. That’s important, even though they may be flawed. That’s how real people are. How real animals probably are.

“That’s what makes them interesting.”

“Flow” is in theaters