Director Kim Byungwoo wanted to explore a single question while writing his latest film: "What is love, and where does it come from?" His answer was found in maternal love — the most instinctive emotion people cling to even in the face of disaster.
The film The Great Flood held its stage greeting on September 19 at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), officially invited to the Korean Cinema Today – Special Premiere section. Director Kim and lead actress Kim Dami met audiences for the first time in three years since filming wrapped.
A Disaster Film with Deeper Questions
The Great Flood is a sci-fi disaster blockbuster set on Earth's final day. As a massive flood submerges the world, survivors fight desperately inside a drowning apartment building.
"The title gives a strong first impression," Kim explained, "but it's not just about the literal flood. The disaster becomes less important than the emotions revealed through it."
Kim Dami's Role as a Mother
Kim Dami plays Anna, an AI researcher who must protect her son during the cataclysm. She described the role as both challenging and transformative:
"Anna is a mysterious figure. I wanted to show not just her outer traits but how she grows and changes as time passes."
To embody the part, Kim trained in scuba diving and underwater movements, learning to express emotions as if submerged even when filming on dry sets. "Carrying my son through the water scenes brought out an instinctive maternal strength," she said.
Director Kim admitted he initially imagined casting a woman in her 40s. "But I wanted audiences to question whether she was truly a mother. Kim Dami always surprises with new faces in each project, and I was curious to see her interpretation."
Love at the Center of Survival
Despite not experiencing motherhood herself, Kim Dami built chemistry with her young co-star by spending extensive time together off-camera. "We tried to live like real mother and son during filming," she said. "If I had to sum up this film in one word, it would be 'love.' I hope viewers reflect on what love means to them."
The Great Flood will be released worldwide on Netflix on December 19, bringing a new kind of disaster story — one where survival is driven not just by instinct, but by love.
