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.
Credits
Before the Deluge Cast
| Name |
Character |
|
Paul Frankeur
He was 48, 69 years old when he died
|
as Monsieur Boussard |
|
Marina Vlady
She was 15, now 85 years old
|
as Liliane Noblet |
|
Isa Miranda
She was 44, 73 years old when she died
|
as Françoise Boussard |
|
Delia Scala
She was 24, 74 years old when she died
|
as Josette |
|
Bernard Blier
He was 38, 73 years old when he died
|
as Marcel Noblet |
|
Antoine Balpêtré
was 55, 64 years old when died
|
as Albert Dutoit |
|
Paul Bisciglia
He was 25, 81 years old when he died
|
as Jean-Jacques Noblet |
|
Jacques Chabassol
He was 18, now 88 years old
|
as Jean Arnaud |
Before the Deluge Crew
| Name |
Department |
|
André Cayatte as Director. He was 45 (80) years old when He died
|
Directing |
|
André Cayatte as Screenplay. He was 45 (80) years old when He died
|
Writing |
|
Charles Spaak as Screenplay. He was 50 (71) years old when He died
|
Writing |
