Monday, February 18, 2013

The Day After

The Day After is a 1983 made-for-tv post-apocalyptic movie starring Jason Robards. Stephen Furst (Babylon 5), John Lithgow, JoBeth Williams and Bibi Besch (who has a Star Trek connection) are also in it. It won a couple of Emmy Awards.

At 2 hours, it seems like it would be too long for this kind of thing, but it doesn't seem too long as I watch it. The first hour sets the scene, and the second hour shows the aftermath. I remember seeing this when it came out. I find it an affecting film, but it doesn't get much respect anymore. I can't remember the last time I saw it discussed or shown.

via youtube:



Moria claims it "exists more as a controversy than it does as a film" saying,
the film’s problem is that characters are blank identities full of even more banal responses. Events happen – bomb explodes, people fight for water – but there’s no drama here.
It gets a score of 100% at Rotten Tomatoes.

4 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:17 AM

    One of the first serious post-apocalyptic stories I ever saw. Scary at the time.
    -- A Pal

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    1. yes, i remember thinking how hard it would be to live in the aftermath if you made it past the event. scary, indeed

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  2. The struggle for survival or any goal is what makes for the framework of a good story.

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    Replies
    1. and this definitely shows the _struggle_. it almost makes me want to look into the survivalist movement. almost.

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