ThefilmdelvesintotheunexploredthemeofthedisplacementoftheRusyn,anEastSlavicethnicgroupfromtheEasternCarpathiansinCentralEurope,duringtheconstructionoftheStarinareservoirinthe1980s.Setagainstthistumultuousbackdrop,Floodintertwinespersonalandcollectivestories,bringingtotheforefronttheoften-overlookedplightoftheRusynminorityinSlovakiaaaa
Gonda'sfilmspeakstominorities,individualswhohaveexperienceddisplacementandyoungadultsthroughitsprotagonist,Mara.Thestoryunfoldsinasmallvillage,threatenedbyanimpendingfloodduetotheconstructionofthereservoir.Mara,ayoungwomanyearningforcitylifeandaneducation,isboundtoherruralrootsbyherstrictfather,aRusynfarmer,whorefusestorelinquishhislandandlegacydespitetheloomingendoftheirworld.Floodexploresthethemesofadolescence,uprootingandthesacrificeofpersonaldesiresforthegreatergood.Thefilmseekstoelicitreflectionsonone'srootsandtheconceptofhome,aswellasthechallengesofnavigatingadisappearingcultureandheritage.
TheStarinareservoir'sconstruction,whichlastedfrom1981-1988,ledtothelargestdisplacementinSlovakhistory.Gonda'spersonalconnectiontotheregion,havingspenthischildhoodsummersthere,addsalayerofauthenticityanddepthtothenarrative.ThefilmnotonlyrecountsthephysicaldestructionofthesevenRusynvillages,butalsocapturestheemotionalandculturalimpactofthiseventonthecommunity.Thedirectoraimstopresentadeeplyresearched,emotiveandintimatestoryaswellasdivingintothecomplexdynamicsbetweenpersonalidentity,communitytiesandtheinexorablemarchofprogress.Themovieispoisedtoengageandchallengeaudiences,fosteringadeeperunderstandingoftheoften-painfulinterplaybetweentraditionandmodernity.
