After the Apocalypse (2004)

An interesting idea, but a very flawed execution. The movie is slow, but that's a positive thing. What isn't, are the stupid actions of the characters just to interact with other humans. It looks some of these actions (like the doll the main character brings to the woman when her 'boyfriend' throws it a few yards away: why doesn't she picks it up herself after the boyfriend leaves?) have just not been thought through.Besides this, the interaction and acting reminded me sometimes of a Buster Keaton-film, but as a poor mans version. Unintentionally funny to the point when it becomes tedious and annoying. I'm a really big fan of post-apocalyptic movies, and although this film tries to do it some other way than just be another Mad Max rip-off, it fails horribly.

The film follows the simple day-to-day existence of a character who has found three other people after seeming to have thought he was alone. While never explained, there is an assumption that our characters are the ragtag remaining few after some sort of devastating event or disease. The production avoids the cliché of a stark-devastated landscape in favor of one simply devoid of other people. The beauty of this piece lies in the fact that we find ourselves caring deeply about all the characters, despite their actions. A scene of one of our main character finding an old abandoned bathtub and taking a bath is both beautiful and sad at the same time. The most astonishing aspect of this film is that it manages to capture both the subtleties and personalities of a small cast without ever saying a word. There are no huge scenes and no hokey miming. Yet, we worry for the characters. I admit to being something of an easy mark but this film really touched me. I screened it for a film festival and have proceeded to tell people about it for months. It has managed to stay with me in a way that most of the recent mainstream releases (even when I enjoyed them) have not.

AFTER THE APOCALYPSE somewhat reminded me of a Quest for Fire type flick (in a weird way) done in a David Lynch format. Set in a bleak, post-urban landscape in the aftermath of the Third World War. Five survivors trying to make sense of a New World after a devastating urban catastrophe challenges all their human needs. It seems that this group of four men and one woman are forced to communicate to each other without speaking, because of deadly toxins in the air.As stated before when I compare Yasuaki Nakajima's to that of Lynch, I do so in the manner of Nakajima's vision for showing us a world through landscapes and environmental thematic situations. With masturbations, a cannibalism and rape situation, a line has been severed and the reality sets in. Discovering sand for the first time would be an oversight to most, but is precious to the characters in this film. Nakajimas' implementation of dramatic situations through the woman survivor, such as being alone and giving birth, in a world so messed up. To me that is just plain terrifying, I could only imagine how she must have felt..AFTER THE APOCALYPSE is an eerie, yet beautiful film. The pure simplicity of the story flows like a cloud and really reaches the viewer. The acting was superb as each piece of the puzzle is crafted and the tensions are raised, at the hands of the actors, throwing out the script at times and showing us their own interpretations. I felt that was another huge aspect of making this such a dramatic film. And it doesn't hurt when the one behind the helm lends his hand at the acting duties; and very well done at that. AFTER THE APOCALYPSE is a very unique and well directed film, which makes me believe there's some great talent to keep an eye out for. AFTER THE APOCALYPSE is just a damn fine flick..

Yasuaki Nakajima has done a masterful job of creating a knockout film from obviously limited resources, using a brilliantly executed sound design in place of dialogue and a set of locations that are perfect for his story line. His own acting in the film is also first-rate and I especially liked his scenes with the woman, as well as the excellent opening in which he emerges through a heavy metal door into the moaning wind of some earth-shattering disaster. Rather than spell out what has created the apocalypse, Nakajima wisely treats his film as an allegory -- e.g. if this were the aftermath of a nuclear bomb, wouldn't the survivors become ill with radiation poisoning? The film has added relevance at a time when some world leaders once again seem hell-bent on making war, ignoring its historical consequences. Congratulations on a terrific job.