This one’s fitting because I’m the sole living creature that happens to be awake late in my home at night while typing this. Some medication-induced insomnia is making sure that, while tired, I don’t sleep. A short film about a man surviving the apocalypse seems appropriate for this occasion. Check out Brock Torunski’s Alone:

Aside from the basic issues I had with it – seriously, how is this guy still getting cell reception years after everyone is dead? – I think that from a thematic standpoint, it hit some solid points with how we approach solitude. When we want to get away from everyone, we go for the long walks (or the jogs if you’re health-conscious); we let the phone go to voice mail; we just want to stare out over a bridge. We just want that space to breathe, to not be at work, to have some time for us. However, once you have it against your will, the feeling is less liberation and more crushing sorrow. You don’t know what to do with yourself. As someone who lives with joint custody (and a damn liberal agreement at that), I can tell you right now that being alone and having complete quiet, while incredible for about a half a day in the early stages, can make you feel lost and sad on a level you didn’t realize existed. (Sidenote: for anyone that feels that it’s acceptable to voice envy or condescension to a parent that splits custody… don’t. It’s a painful experience I wouldn’t wish on anyone, so please, don’t even think of trying to cheer someone up with all the cool stuff they get to do. It’s hurtful and it doesn’t help.) I don’t think this sense is tackled enough because no one wants to admit it’s there.

On a lighter note, I liked that the survivor wasn’t the typical survivor: it was a kid with a business degree, which, if you look at zombie and apocalypse fare, is typically the first person to die. This typically signifies that the middle class office jockey can’t hack it; I liked that flip. I also liked that in the end, a light went on in the dark. Some may think it’s cheesy. I thought it was nice that while we got acknowledgment that someone else was still kicking without having to see some gorgeous woman come running out into the streets to see the last man alive.

Happy Saturday, and sleep tight.