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Before the Deluge

The title of this French "reality" drama, which translates to Before the Deluge, is a play on Louis XVI's famous prognostication, "Apres moi, le deluge." Set in 1950, the film concentrates on five Parisian adolescents. Certain that the next war will herald the apocalypse, the youngster make plans to run off to a desert island and set up a new society. This, however, will require money, which is why the boys decide to pull off a "necessary" robbery. Idealism collapses in the face of cold reality, as the five youths suffer from the consequences of their actions. Avant le Deluge was one of a group of films cowritten by director Andre Cayatte and Charles Spaak which endeavored to explore the touchy social issues of the day: others in the Cayatte-Spaak canon include the euthanasia-themed Justice est Faite and the capital-punishment tract Nous sommes tous des assassins.

Top Cast

  • Antoine Balpêtré

    Antoine Balpêtré

    Albert Dutoit

  • Paul Bisciglia

    Paul Bisciglia

    Jean-Jacques Noblet

  • Bernard Blier

    Bernard Blier

    Marcel Noblet

  • Marina Vlady

    Marina Vlady

    Liliane Noblet

  • Jacques Chabassol

    Jacques Chabassol

    Jean Arnaud

  • Clément Thierry

    Clément Thierry

    Philippe Boussard

  • Jacques Fayet

    Jacques Fayet

    Richard Dutoit

  • Roger Coggio

    Roger Coggio

    Daniel Epstein

  • Jacques Castelot

    Jacques Castelot

    Serge de Montesson

Overview

The title of this French "reality" drama, which translates to Before the Deluge, is a play on Louis XVI's famous prognostication, "Apres moi, le deluge." Set in 1950, the film concentrates on five Parisian adolescents. Certain that the next war will herald the apocalypse, the youngster make plans to run off to a desert island and set up a new society. This, however, will require money, which is why the boys decide to pull off a "necessary" robbery. Idealism collapses in the face of cold reality, as the five youths suffer from the consequences of their actions. Avant le Deluge was one of a group of films cowritten by director Andre Cayatte and Charles Spaak which endeavored to explore the touchy social issues of the day: others in the Cayatte-Spaak canon include the euthanasia-themed Justice est Faite and the capital-punishment tract Nous sommes tous des assassins.

Rating

6.6 / 10
11 Reviews
0 Popular

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