Flow

Goddamn this film remains a spiritual experience to me—one that makes me feel connected to nature in a way that very few (if any) films have the ability to.  Harlie got the Criterion 4K combo edition for my birthday and we watched it together. Out cats were seated beside us and early on in the film one of my cats had his eyes locked on the screen as the water was rising and the cat in the movie was panicking. That’s when I knew that this film transcends species as well as cultures. You can pop this movie in front of anyone on the planet and they can be moved by the odyssey of friendship, betrayal, camaraderie, of setting aside differences for a chance at harmonizing for a better world. And all of this without a single word uttered. Truly astonishing filmmaking of the simplest, primal caliber.  We can all learn a valuable lesson from these adorable, vulnerable creatures. And I so badly wanted to join in their reflection in the last frame, to reinforce that they’re not alone.  9.5/10