Rewatching ‘Flow’: The Surprising Twist That Changes Everything About Cat and Whale

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2024 has been a fantastic year for movies, boasting numerous contenders for the top spot. We could discuss the acclaimed Best Picture winner, “Anora,” or delve into the Best International Film, “I’m Still Here.” However, today I’d like to focus on a genre close to my heart – animation. And naturally, that leads me to “Flow,” a film you won’t want to miss!

Although I’ve previously delved into my preferred 2024 animated films, I haven’t taken the opportunity to pen a dedicated article on Flow. Some of my peers have become members of its fan club, such as Philip Sledge who penned an account of watching Flow with his family. However, I hadn’t re-watched the movie until now.

Previously, during a six-hour flight back to New York, when I was searching for something to keep myself entertained, I found “Flow” and decided to watch it again since it held great significance for me in the year 2024.

Despite knowing its outcome, it continues to resonate deeply within me. However, there’s a particular angle that has significantly altered my viewpoint towards both ‘Cat’ and ‘Whale’, characters without official names in the movie. This shift in perspective is so profound that I feel compelled to discuss it at length.

I Always Thought That Cat And Whale Were Sort Of The Same For A Time

I always believed Cat and Whale to sort of be the same when it comes to their personalities.

In essence, my cat was solitary by nature, which is typical of most felines. They often traverse the world independently, seeking food or whatever circumstances require, and if they chance upon a friendly human, it’s fortunate for them. On the other hand, what I understand about whales is that they are generally social, particularly with their kin. However, this specific whale was always isolated.

It’s true that we rarely observe a Whale in the company of others. This led me to initially believe that Cat and Whale were similar characters due to their solitary nature. They both choose to explore the world independently, fostering a unique bond between them. I speculate that this is why the Whale comes to aid the Cat when it’s drowning in the ocean and its small paw isn’t strong enough to reach the surface – an incredibly terrifying situation, more unsettling than any horror movie I’ve seen.

But upon rewatching, I started to notice something about these two, especially with the ending.

But Now I’ve Started To Realize That Their Roles Reverse At The End

One particularly moving scene in “Flow” occurs towards the end, where Cat is observed gazing into a puddle, now accompanied by his newfound companions. This poignantly recalls the opening scene of him standing solitarily before a puddle, making for a powerful and satisfying conclusion to his narrative.

However, as I witnessed the encounter between Whale and Cat, when the cat discovered the whale beached due to severely lowered water levels, it was then that a revelation struck me. The traditional roles they played had altered significantly – their lives had been reshaped by these unusual circumstances.

When the floods started, Whale found himself more adapted to the situation compared to Cat. While Cat was battling to stay alive without companions, Whale thrived like a duck in a pond – or rather, a large mammal in a vast ocean. Cat relied heavily on friends for survival. In a strange twist of events, Whale became that friend when it rescued Cat – a helpful presence during a time when Whale felt at ease.

However, tragically, the Whale finds himself all by himself, struggling on the shore and yearning for aid, for companionship. Regrettably, in this situation, what the Cat possesses to comfort it during its toughest moments is something the Whale cannot experience.

Later on, there’s Cat, who is no longer by himself and has companions now, but unfortunately, he can’t offer assistance to the Whale as he did for him earlier. Despite his newfound comfort on land due to the significantly lowered water level, he remains powerless in alleviating the Whale’s predicament. All that he can provide is solace with friends around.

Such an understanding hits you hard, like a heavy blow to the stomach. Moments such as these bring tears to my eyes just as profoundly as when I first watched the movie “Past Lives“. And it’s an experience that will forever linger in my memory.

It Really Wraps Up The Story Very Nicely

What I find most impressive is how effectively it concludes the tales of Cat and Whale, offering new insights into their characters that I hadn’t considered before. The narrative twists and turns as much as a winding backroad in the woods, but it all comes together neatly. It moved me so deeply that I felt both tears and laughter at once.

As a movie enthusiast, I must say there’s an enchanting quality to the scene unfolding before me. Here we have two creatures, vastly dissimilar in form, anatomy, and every other aspect, yet they resonate with emotions strikingly human – loneliness and longing for companionship. It’s a sight that catches you off guard, striking a chord deep within.

Surely, the final scene suggests that the whale surfaced beyond the sea, which leaves room for speculation that it may have survived. Nevertheless, I find myself satisfied with the conclusion, despite its poignant sadness.

If you haven’t yet watched the movie “Flow”, it is accessible on Max and offers an extraordinary perspective on life in general. I must say, it makes quite an impact, which explains why it was among the winners at the 2025 Academy Awards. You surely wouldn’t want to miss out on this remarkable experience.

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2025-04-20 23:09