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Here's a still-powerful film about the end of the world that has all the more emotional impact for being so understated. Apparently the very first film to deal with the possibility of nuclear war & its aftermath, it almost has the look & feel of a European arthouse film -- clear, vibrant B&W cinematography; innovative filming angles; restrained performances from its little-known actors; philosophical overtones. Yet I never once found it dull or dragging in the least. It gripped my attention, it made me feel & it made me think.
At this point, let me warn the potential viewer to utterly ignore the snark-laden "review" from the Amazon reviewer, which to me reveals more about the lack in the reviewer, rather than any lack in the film. The story very quietly but effectively points up the folly of grasping after power, wealth, status; and it also makes clear that the futile attempt to possess all those things, especially at the expense of others, can destroy an individual's world as well as the entire world. It asks us to consider what really matters in life, as with Mr. Barnstaple, whose final words are of all the things he always wanted to do, but never got around to doing. And the ludicrous sight of the shallow, self-centered Erik, gloating over his treasure trove of jewelry in a world where it has absolutely no value ... and perhaps never really did.
As for the dialogue being "purple" or "pretentious" as some have claimed, I heard very little of that myself. And in any case, even if a line or two does get a little self-consciously poetic or portentous -- if being one of a handful of survivors after the end of the world isn't reason enough for that, then what is? Personally, I think a certain amount of reflective, solemn dialogue is quite believable in these circumstances.
Obviously a labor of love for producer/director/writer Arch Oboler, it benefits from its minimalist approach. Even the shocks are muted, reflecting the emotional numbness of the survivors. The ruins that he's really exploring are psychological, and quite clearly existed even before the bombs fell. His choices are small, unexpected, and ultimately deeply moving: the little details of everyday life that were never noticed until they weren't there (and which we seldom notice in our own busy, rushed, everyday lives). This is a film that deserves to be better known, and I'll definitely be watching it again in the near future -- most highly recommended!
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Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2017
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