U.S. critic hails Latvia’s revolutionary animated movie ‘Flow’

He is also one of more than 300 journalists who participated in the voting for the Golden Globe awards, which saw Flow walk away with the Best Animated Motion Picture prize and admits that he has already watched Flow six times.

Anda Boša: What did you think about Flow’s win?

Bižans Tehrani: Flow to me was magic. I was totally amazed because this is the true meaning of use of animation. It is not trying to rebuild the life that we have or recreate the world that we have. It creates its own world. And it’s such a magic world that takes you into this journey of kind of knowing yourself, knowing the real meaning of life right now and what we’re going through. And this is so beautifully done.

I think after Fantasia from Disney in 1940, this is the second movie in the history of animation that gets to such a high level. I dare to say that Flow is actually a revolution in making animation. And I believe it really changes everything.

I’m not sure about the box office. I hope that people go and watch this beautiful movie because they would love it if they let themselves go and try to enjoy it. And this is a great moment for me that I am witnessing in my life for one of the greatest movies of our time winning an award.

And I congratulate all the filmmakers in Latvia, especially the guys who made this beautiful movie.

Is it a milestone for an independent film to win a Golden Globe?

Exactly. And I think that is why this part of having so many international voters helps. Because we are not under the influence of major studios when we vote. And what we do is we try to pick the best. And this is I think how this happens.

And I have to raise my hand for the Golden Globe organizers for doing this. But I think this is really important for independent cinema.

I have watched the film six times so far. And I think I will watch it a few more times.

What is the soul of the movie (besides the lack of dialogue) that spoke to so many people in the whole world?

I think it is about the challenges that we deal in our world today. Our loneliness, finding companions in places that we normally don’t find companions. It is about our struggle to survive in this world facing all these challenges, about pollution and about climate change. And about most of the countries not caring about what is going on. I think it is all about that in a very indirect way. And also this is a movie that everyone could interpret in their own imagination.

What did you think of the acceptance speech?

Very nice, very nice. I really loved it. I think it was one of the nicest. Just an honest – this is so important because everybody cries or tries to say hello to 100 different people – but this was a very honest speech and that’s why I loved it.

What is it about independent filmmakers that is different from those working with big studios?

I think it mostly comes from the thinking of the people. Because when you are making a movie in a studio, you become slowly a slave of this studio. A slave of what makes money according to them. This is not always true, but that’s what we’re thinking. So you have to make the movies they like. Otherwise you will be out after making one film.

But an independent filmmaker is putting his or her life into a film. And that’s what makes the big difference. And it’s free from all those limitations, orders, budget issues and all that.

Do you think this will open more industry doors for our filmmakers?

Absolutely, I think. Whenever a film comes to that level of success, it always brings hope to others who are in this field. It brings hope to the young people.

If it brings hope to me, I’m sure it will excite all these young people. And we know we should do more, we should work more to conquer more borders and get where independent cinema belongs.

Very soon the Academy Award (‘Oscar’) nominations are due. Do you think Flow will get one?

I believe “Flow” will be one of the nominated films. I will be surprised if it’s not. Of course I’m telling you the Oscars are different than Golden Globes. Maybe the Golden Globes a few years ago were exactly like the Oscars. But in the Oscars a lot of people who vote are Academy members living in the United States. Working for the major companies that they are forced to vote for. But I hope by having a lot of filmmakers from different countries now voting Flow will have a chance. And I really, really cross my fingers that it wins the actual Oscar for best animated film.

Is it really possible?

I think it’s difficult. Nomination is a possibility. But winning an Oscar is a little bit difficult. Because there are films that are so cute. We have been bombarded by cute animation all our lives. And I’m not saying they are bad movies or anything like that. But they are interesting, they are nice. Some of them have great thoughts in them. But nothing comes even close to Flow.

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