The Flood

The early 20th century. A flood strikes a large American city on the banks of the Mississippi River. In a certain bar, several people find themselves trapped together in a small space, caught in a torrential downpour. They learn from weather reports that the storm has destroyed the dam and floodwaters have submerged much of the city. A rumor spreads that everyone taking refuge in the bar is doomed to die. Faced with the imminent danger, strange transformations occur in the people: wealthy cynics and grumbling bankrupts turn into individuals capable of empathy and love. In the final hours of their lives, they seek to be kinder, to care for each other. But when the threat of the flood dissipates, everything returns to the way it was...

Directed by Eugene Simonoff, The Flood leans on a strong ensemble — Vladimir Etush, Yuriy Yakovlev, Grigori Abrikosov — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1983.