Academy Award-Winning ‘Flow’ Steals the Spotlight in UK Cinemas – Movie Review
Key Points:
– During this year’s award season, many anticipated sequels and critically acclaimed animation films were up for nomination, including Pixar’s Inside Out 2, DreamWorks’ The Wild Robot, and Aardman’s latest addition to the Wallace and Gromit series, Vengeance Most Fowl.
– Despite these heavy competitors, none of them managed to grab the coveted Golden Globe.
– ‘Flow’, the animation film that stole the show and snagged the award, is now heating up UK cinemas, enhancing global recognition of talented 3D animators behind it.
Hot Take:
Well, well, well, in the fickle world of animation, we’ve just witnessed a David and Goliath-like scenario. Our beloved Pixar, Dreamworks & Aardman were bumped off the top by the little-known but clearly mighty ‘Flow’. It’s like the tortoise and hare, only this time Pixar’s the snoozing rabbit, and ‘Flow’ just rocketed past the finish line riding a jetpack. It’s like a plot twist nobody saw coming except M. Night Shyamalan. UK viewers, brace yourselves; the Oscar-winning animation ‘Flow’ is about to take you on an unexpected cinematic ride. Make sure you grab your popcorn and maybe learn a dance move or two from Flow’s victory dance!
In the animated-film realm of this year’s flamboyant awards season, a fair number of excellent titles were contending for recognition. The Oscar-worthy sequel from Pixar, Inside Out 2, Dreamworks’ critically acclaimed The Wild Robot, and the return of the lovable Wallace and Gromit in Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl topped the audience’s list. However, these laudable titles bowed to a surprise victor in the Golden Globe and the Academy Award and several festival awards – Flow.
Despite costing a modest three million pounds to create and the formidable task of remote animation across three European countries using the open-source software Blender, Flow stood out among a sea of brilliant releases over the past year, but why? And is it deserving of a watch on the big screen?
© Dream Well Studio, Sacrebleu Productions, Take Five, Charades
The plot transports you to an enigmatic and apparently deserted world reclaimed by nature, populated by various animal species. Leading the protagonist’s role is a timid feline stranded in a catastrophic flood but saved by a capybara-operated boat. The movie’s course changes drastically when the protagonist learns to trust her fellow rescued companions as they adapt to their novel and perilous world.
In virtue of the absence of dialogue and the narrative led by a cat, screenplay writers Gintz Zibalodis and Matiss Kaza demonstrated their prowess in crafting a delightful yet simple story accompanied by profund character developments. Echoing the brilliance of 2023’s silent film Robot Dreams, their work triumphed in the non-dialogue animated film genre.
© Dream Well Studio, Sacrebleu Productions, Take Five, Charades
Thanks to Zibalodis and Kaza’s exceptional script, the animation and design team created an aesthetically pleasing and visually distinctive universe in spite of their constraints.
Opting for a combination of watercolour strokes over computer-generated models resulted in a visually delightful animation with unique textures. The pastel palette combined with strategic lighting added depth and vividness to characters and landscapes. The powerful visual storytelling, balanced camera work, and well-placed moments of tension and humour together gave Flow its charming appeal.
© Dream Well Studio, Sacrebleu Productions, Take Five, Charades
Flow, marked by its hurdles and boundaries, emerged as a visually stunning and character-driven story, skillfully weaving through the fabric of a mysterious, captivating world. Its captivating conclusion solidifies its Academy Award win. So, for a memorable cinema experience, make sure to watch Flow on the big screen.
© Dream Well Studio, Sacrebleu Productions, Take Five, Charades
Mark your calendars, Flow is set to captivate UK cinemas from the 21st of March 2025.
Head over to our exclusive chat with Flow’s Oscar-winning director Gints Zilbalodis for more insights!
Original article: https://www.skwigly.co.uk/gintz-zibalodis-flow-review-uk-release/