Watch The Great Flood

The Great Flood is a documentary film from 2012 that details the disastrous floods that ravaged the Mississippi River in 1927. The film is directed by Bill Morrison, with music by Bill Frisell. The Great Flood tells the story of the devastating natural disaster that hit the Mississippi River Valley in the spring of 1927. The Mississippi River, which had been swollen by heavy rains and melting snow, overflowed its banks, inundating over 27,000 square miles of land and displacing nearly a million people.

The film is composed entirely of archival footage, much of which was shot by government agencies and news organizations at the time. Morrison weaves together these clips to create a powerful and evocative narrative that captures the scale and scope of the disaster.

One of the key themes of The Great Flood is the issue of race and class in America. At the time of the flood, the South was deeply segregated, with black Americans often relegated to the lowest-paying and most dangerous jobs. The flood only served to exacerbate these inequalities, as black Americans were disproportionately affected by the flooding and subsequent displacement.

The film also highlights the heroic efforts of the relief workers who stepped in to help in the aftermath of the flood. Many of these workers were from the Northern states and were shocked by the conditions they found in the South. The film shows scenes of white volunteers working alongside black laborers, and the makeshift camps that were set up to house the many refugees.

Throughout the film, Morrison employs a variety of cinematic techniques to convey the enormity of the flood. He uses time-lapse photography to show the rising waters, and creates haunting montages of ruined homes and lost possessions. The soundtrack, composed by jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, is spare and atmospheric, with mournful guitar lines that perfectly capture the sense of loss and despair.

The Great Flood is a poignant and powerful film that sheds light on one of America's greatest natural disasters. Through its use of archival footage and evocative soundtrack, it offers a vivid and unforgettable portrait of a nation in crisis. The film also offers a sobering reminder of the enduring legacy of racial and economic inequality in America, and the need for greater compassion and solidarity in times of crisis.

The Great Flood is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 19 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 75.