The Journey of Flow - Alizarin Capeland

    Recently, I saw the award-winning animated indie movie Flow with one of my friends (he asked me to name him as "the Great Zacheriah"). We were interested in it because the movie won an Oscar, a rare feat for an indie film from Latvia. The movie is without speech since it only features animals, leaving much of the film to be interpreted by the watcher. Of course, this meant we made up silly names for the animals. While the overall experience was bizarre but positive, I couldn't help but notice how Cat, the main animal, goes on the hero's journey despite the lack of clear direction and dialogue. 

    The story is set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world where the water levels are constantly rising. Cat finds a boat with Capybara in it and meets other animal friends along the way. Cat's call is out of necessity to find a safe place to live without drowning in the flood. Several times, it is tempted to stop off at high places to get resources with the assumption that the flood will stop but it never does. Cat finally finds a friend after being saved from other birds by Secretary Bird and they become closer than the rest of the animals. Here, the transformation is done when Secretary Bird and Cat climb up a tall spire of a mountain and Secretary Bird is transcended into the sky in a ball of light. After, the water finally recedes and the animals are able to return home. Cat saves Capybara again and they are able to learn to heal after the traumatic experience. 


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