Flow: Gints Zilbalodis’ remarkable animation tells the story of the journey of a few animals, chiefly the lovable dark grey cat shown in the poster. It’s a pure, simple narrative, nevertheless brimming with magic and emotion. Mankind is absent, present indirectly through artefacts; there is some symbolism in this if one wants to see it. The characters are (relatively) simple in design, but amazingly well-animated, with convincing and realistic body actions and expressive eyes; additionally, they are for the most part “voiced” by members of their own species (in a superb work by sound designer Gurwal Coïc-Gallas). The environments are superbly designed: the natural side has beautiful woods and waterways, while the ruins are eerie, almost alien (the point of view, after all, is that of the animals). More often than not, the acting unfurls in single-take sequences, sporting a dynamic camera that never sacrifices clarity or beauty in the process; the lighting is exquisite. In that sense, it’s all the more remarkable that Zilbalodis was directly responsible for all that: art direction, cinematography, and editing. He also co-composed the beautiful musical score, alongside Rihards Zaļupe. This is a very special film.