The Postman

The Postman (1997)

Information at Internet Movie Database
Cinema in Focus, a social and spiritual commentary by Hal Conklin and Denny Wayman.
"Personal Mail," Steve Lansingh, TheFilmForum: Christian Conversation about the Movies.
Hollywood Jesus visual review.
Review, Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality & Health - Spiritual Practices for Human Being.
Themes
- Apocalyptic
  - "The Postman" is a Kevin Costner movie that is set in a USA of the future. The country has come through a major war and has been broken up into small, isolated and scared communities. A private army terrorizes the communities. Into this scene a wanderer stumbles across the uniform of a USA postman and a mail bag. He starts to deliver mail and pretends he is the representative of a new government. A whole new postal service is started that gives people real hope as they reconnect with loved ones in other places. (submitted by Alan Missen)
- Baptism
  - John is sworn in as a postman (DVD Chapter 17) - the tradition continues as new postal workers are sworn in (DVD Chapter 30)
- Confession
  - "I took the uniform off a skeleton to stay warm. I made up the rest to stay fed." (DVD Chapter 35)
- Hope
  - "The Postman" is a Kevin Costner movie that is set in a USA of the future. The country has come through a major war and has been broken up into small, isolated and scared communities. A private army terrorizes the communities. Into this scene a wanderer stumbles across the uniform of a USA postman and a mail bag. He starts to deliver mail and pretends he is the representative of a new government. A whole new postal service is started that gives people real hope as they reconnect with loved ones in other places. (submitted by Alan Missen)
- Journey
  - Through his journey, the postman becomes what he pretends to be.
- Martyrdom/Persecution
  - The postal workers are willing to be martyred for their profession.
- Mary
  - Abby and The Postman (the baby's "body father") search for a safe place for her to birth the child.
- Passing on the Mantle
  - The Kevin Costner guy picks up the postman cap as he buries its previous owner. "Thanks for being there for me." (DVD Chapter 12)
  - John is sworn in as a postman (DVD Chapter 17) - the tradition continues as new postal workers are sworn in (DVD Chapter 30)
- Recognition/Emmaus Road Scene
  - There's a great "Emmaus Road" scene in "The Postman". The young woman meets The Postman and Abby on the road and tells them the legend of The Postman, not knowing that it is him. When Postmaster Ford Lincoln Mercury recognizes The Postman (as he reads the letter and asks who knows what "p.s." means), the young woman says that she knew all along that it was him. (DVD Chapter 29)
- Redeemer/Redemption
  - The Postman as redeemer figure - redeeming others through his own misguided deeds and words.
- Truth/Truthfulness
  - The Legend the Postman creates of a re-formed United States (and President Richard Starkey!) gives the people hope. (DVD Chapter 22)

Index of Movie Titles

Index of Movie Themes