Apocalyptic Beginnings and Social Commentary
Kim Byung-woo’s latest film, The Great Flood, opens with a massive flood engulfing Seoul. The story initially follows An-na, a mother trying to escape the rising waters by climbing her 30-storey apartment building. This setup grounds the film in familiar disaster movie territory while hinting at deeper social themes.
A Shift Into Sinister Sci-Fi
The narrative takes a sharp turn when An-na’s identity as a second-ranking scientist is revealed. She is involved in a secret UN research project crucial to humanity’s survival amid the chaos. As an asteroid impact triggers the catastrophic rain, the movie evolves from a straightforward survival story into layered sci-fi.
Key Characters and Plot Dynamics
An-na’s six-year-old son, Ja-in, dreams of the flood as a swimmer, adding a personal stake to the disaster. Corporate security officer Hee-jo informs them of the impending apocalypse and the planned evacuation of key scientific personnel. Their journey up the apartment building rooftop symbolizes more than escape — it unveils the complexity of their mission and the film’s unexpected direction.
Narrative Complexity and Influences
The film’s narrative grows recursive and mind-bending, drawing inspiration from titles like Edge of Tomorrow and Interstellar. Kim’s storyline explores repeated scenarios where An-na adjusts her responses to others, such as a trapped girl and a woman in labor. This cyclical storytelling device deepens the sci-fi intrigue while raising questions about human emotion and behavior.
Themes of Entertainment and Humanity
The Great Flood critiques the nature of modern entertainment, suggesting emotional reactions can be finely tuned, much like content algorithms. The film’s sometimes fractured storytelling and ambiguous antagonist highlight ongoing human flaws. It poses a thought-provoking reflection on whether these flaws are part of a larger, optimized future entertainment model.
Availability
The Great Flood is available for streaming on Netflix starting 19 December, offering viewers a blend of disaster, thriller, and speculative fiction that challenges conventional apocalyptic narratives.
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