Flood

Set against the backdrop of communist Czechoslovakia in 1980, *Flood* is a poignant historical drama that captures a pivotal moment of cultural and personal upheaval. The film, directed by Martin Gonda, marks a cinematic milestone as the first fictional feature produced in the Rusyn language. At the heart of the story is 15-year-old Mara, a young woman with soaring ambitions. While she dreams of leaving her rural village to study in the city and become a pilot, her father, Alexander—a widowed Ruthenian farmer—is deeply rooted in the land, insisting that Mara stay to uphold their family’s agricultural legacy. This generational divide is pushed to a breaking point by the encroaching construction of the Starina reservoir. As the government plans to submerge their valley, the impending destruction of their home forces a collision between the preservation of tradition and the desperate human need for freedom. *Flood* explores the profound struggle of the Rusyn people facing displacement, weaving together a narrative of identity, heritage, and the search for reconciliation. As the waters rise, Mara and Alexander must confront not only the loss of their physical history but also the shifting tides of their own relationship. It is a stirring examination of how individuals navigate historical change when the very ground beneath them is destined to disappear.