Kicking off the prestigious 2025 awards season, the Golden Globes, the year's inaugural major ceremony, marked an unforgettable evening filled with landmark moments. Notably, Karla Sofía Gascón made history as the first openly transgender performer to receive a film acting nomination, while Nikki Glaser distinction herself as the first solo female host in the ceremony's storied annals. Yet, amidst the glitter and glory, one victory shone brightly with profound significance for European cinema: "Flow" (Latvian: "Straume"), an animated masterpiece helmed by Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis, claimed the Best Motion Picture – Animated award.
In doing so, "Flow" etched its name in the annals of the Golden Globes as the maiden Latvian film to triumph, outshining formidable competition from major US productions like "Moana 2" and "Inside Out 2." This triumph stands as a remarkable achievement for Latvia, a country nurturing a burgeoning yet relatively modest film industry.
Reflecting on the monumental win, Zilbalodis exclaimed, "This is the first time a film from Latvia has been recognized at this level; it's monumental for us."
Debuting at the prestigious 2024 Cannes Film Festival within the esteemed Un Certain Regard section, "Flow" has garnered critical acclaim and multiple accolades at European film festivals, including the Best Animated Film award at the European Film Awards. It was also Latvia's contender for the Best International Feature Oscar this year.
"Flow" is an enchanting animated fantasy adventure crafted using the free and open-source software Blender, remarkable for its dialogue-free narrative. The film chronicles a cat's surreal, dream-like odyssey, with a heartfelt message about collaboration and trust deeply personal to Zilbalodis. He elaborated, "This story holds a special place in my heart because, unlike my solitary past works, I collaborated with a team this time. Like the cat in the film, I learned to trust, collaborate, and overcome differences. This is a crucial lesson in today's world." Concluding his heartfelt acceptance speech, Zilbalodis thanked everyone who embraced his team's "little cat film."
Our "Best Movies of 2024" list hailed, "The intricate micro-characteristics of each creature—the eagerly inquisitive Labrador, the grouchy capybara, and the enigmatic secretarybird—forge endearing dynamics that float themes of friendship and the importance of unity despite differences. While climate change looms large, 'Flow' is most rewarding as a beautifully told simple story—stressful at times but ultimately life-affirming, a soul-soothing elixir." Read our review here.
Building on its recent spree of successes, "Flow" is poised to make a strong bid for Academy Awards recognition, emerging as one of the most anticipated films on the awards circuit. Will it outshine other Best International Feature Oscar contenders, including Ireland's "Kneecap" and France's "Emilia Pérez"? Emilia's triumph seems odds-on, but there's still hope for the tenacious little kitty...
