I'm a little surprised at how little attention some reviewers paid to the plot of this movie.
Regarding the lack of bodies, we're told via newspaper headlines that: 1) The world has been decimated by radioactive poison, and 2) All the cities have been deserted. That's why there are no bodies in the cities. Could there be some bodies in the vehicles between cities? Could there be some traces of people who didn't evacuate and died in a corner somewhere? Possibly, but we don't see them, and that's fine.
Regarding the low number of survivors, we're told via shortwave radio transmissions that there are more survivors out there (possibly in Europe or South America), but we don't know how many. The idea that only 3 survivors would journey to the same part of NYC isn't wholly unbelievable given the circumstances.
The real meat of this story is in the personal journey of Ralph Burton, a miner whose skills make him a natural leader in the new world, but who could never have had the same status in the old world on account of his skin color. Ralph wrestles with the pros and cons of an empty world, but just when he's at his breaking point (RIP Snodgrass), a beautiful young woman Sarah shows up.
The two become good friends but can't quite bring themselves to romance, primarily because Ralph knows that if there are more survivors out there, things could return to the way they were, including racism. Ralph is so resentful of this possibility that he starts distancing himself from Sarah in advance, much to her frustration. He can't risk becoming too comfortable in this new world, no matter how much he cares for Inger (the birthday scene is a perfect example of this).
The arrival of of third survivor, Benson, serves as an excuse for Ralph to cement the racial divide between him and Sarah, and to delve deeper into resentment and focus on his work. Benson, for his part, has no problem with Ralph and talks to him as an equal. Seeing that Ralph has no interest in Sarah, Benson grows closer to her over time and enjoys his time in this new world, which breeds further resentment in Ralph, who's reminded of the ever-cheerful Snodgrass (who he killed).
Ralph's repressed desires eventually become apparent to Benson, who becomes frustrated with both Ralph and Sarah who can't seem to make up their minds about where Benson ought to fit into this new world. Benson can't feel safe in a relationship with Sarah so long as Ralph is alive, so Benson chooses to escalate the tension to physical violence (World War 4) and force Ralph to make his decision: Kill Benson and have Sarah to himself, or die which allows Benson to pursue Sarah unimpeded.
Ultimately Ralph's choice is the peaceful refusal to choose, placing the men at the same impasse they were at before. Both he and Benson are prepared to wander off in frustration and defeat, but Sarah insists that they both stay. And thus, some new world begins. Is it a happier one? A dysfunctional one? One in which interracial polygamy is acceptable? We don't know.
This film has a lot to offer in terms of thoughtful reflections, dramatic encounters, and comedic bits, which are usually all intertwined in the same scene. Where it falls short is the unresolved ending and the fact that watching three people in an empty city can get, well, kind of boring sometimes if you're not in the right mood.
Regarding the lack of bodies, we're told via newspaper headlines that: 1) The world has been decimated by radioactive poison, and 2) All the cities have been deserted. That's why there are no bodies in the cities. Could there be some bodies in the vehicles between cities? Could there be some traces of people who didn't evacuate and died in a corner somewhere? Possibly, but we don't see them, and that's fine.
Regarding the low number of survivors, we're told via shortwave radio transmissions that there are more survivors out there (possibly in Europe or South America), but we don't know how many. The idea that only 3 survivors would journey to the same part of NYC isn't wholly unbelievable given the circumstances.
The real meat of this story is in the personal journey of Ralph Burton, a miner whose skills make him a natural leader in the new world, but who could never have had the same status in the old world on account of his skin color. Ralph wrestles with the pros and cons of an empty world, but just when he's at his breaking point (RIP Snodgrass), a beautiful young woman Sarah shows up.
The two become good friends but can't quite bring themselves to romance, primarily because Ralph knows that if there are more survivors out there, things could return to the way they were, including racism. Ralph is so resentful of this possibility that he starts distancing himself from Sarah in advance, much to her frustration. He can't risk becoming too comfortable in this new world, no matter how much he cares for Inger (the birthday scene is a perfect example of this).
The arrival of of third survivor, Benson, serves as an excuse for Ralph to cement the racial divide between him and Sarah, and to delve deeper into resentment and focus on his work. Benson, for his part, has no problem with Ralph and talks to him as an equal. Seeing that Ralph has no interest in Sarah, Benson grows closer to her over time and enjoys his time in this new world, which breeds further resentment in Ralph, who's reminded of the ever-cheerful Snodgrass (who he killed).
Ralph's repressed desires eventually become apparent to Benson, who becomes frustrated with both Ralph and Sarah who can't seem to make up their minds about where Benson ought to fit into this new world. Benson can't feel safe in a relationship with Sarah so long as Ralph is alive, so Benson chooses to escalate the tension to physical violence (World War 4) and force Ralph to make his decision: Kill Benson and have Sarah to himself, or die which allows Benson to pursue Sarah unimpeded.
Ultimately Ralph's choice is the peaceful refusal to choose, placing the men at the same impasse they were at before. Both he and Benson are prepared to wander off in frustration and defeat, but Sarah insists that they both stay. And thus, some new world begins. Is it a happier one? A dysfunctional one? One in which interracial polygamy is acceptable? We don't know.
This film has a lot to offer in terms of thoughtful reflections, dramatic encounters, and comedic bits, which are usually all intertwined in the same scene. Where it falls short is the unresolved ending and the fact that watching three people in an empty city can get, well, kind of boring sometimes if you're not in the right mood.