💚 THE SQUASH

Randy and Kevin team up to dive deep into Flow, Gints Zilbalodis' visually hypnotic and emotionally powerful animated masterpiece. In this episode, they break down the film’s breathtaking cinematography, grounded storytelling, and raw emotional punch - all conveyed without a single word of dialogue. The story follows a lone cat navigating a world shattered by disaster, weaving together survival drama with poignant reflections on fear, trust, and resilience.

💚 THE STRETCH

In this episode of Squash ‘n’ Stretch, hosts Randy Young and Kevin Bannerman invite listeners on a remarkable journey through Flow, an indie film already making waves across the awards circuit. With Zilbalodis’ unorthodox approach--storyboarding nothing and crafting the world entirely in Blender - the conversation covers everything from the elegance of wordless storytelling to the heart-pounding innovation of an animal’s-eye view.

The episode celebrates the film's core themes of courage and vulnerability, spotlighting Zilbalodis' ability to capture quiet yet universal moments—like the heart-wrenching portrayal of loss through a wounded bird—that make the story feel personal and deeply human.

Randy and Kevin also delve into the production’s brilliance: a French-Belgian-Latvian co-production that ditched traditional studio playbooks in favor of indie grit and delivered some of the most authentic character animation in years. The film’s exploration of survival and unity hits especially hard, with Randy drawing a thoughtful parallel to real-life crises that test our humanity.

This episode isn’t just about animation - it’s a tribute to bold, independent storytelling. Flow isn’t just a movie; it’s an emotional and philosophical experience that invites reflection long after the credits roll.