Mad Max: Fury Road may have laid out a unique, bare-knuckle version of a ravaged post-apocalyptic world, but Craig Zobel's Z for Zachariah puts forth a very different vision. At its core, the film is a three-pronged romantic thriller following the survivors of a terrible event that wipes out humanity. It's a very simple premise, but one look at the powerful new trailer shows that nothing is as simple as it seems.
Margot Robbie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Chris Pine are pretty much the only actors in the film, and they're embroiled in a potentially dangerous love triangle that could affect the future of humanity. Here's the official synopsis:
In the wake of a nuclear war, a young woman survives on her own, fearing she may actually be the proverbial last woman on earth, until she discovers the most astonishing sight of her life: another human being. A distraught scientist, he's nearly been driven mad by radiation exposure and his desperate search for others. A fragile, imperative strand of trust connects them. But when a stranger enters the valley, their precarious bond begins to unravel. Z FOR ZACHARIAH is inspired by the novel of the same name by Robert C. O'Brien, published posthumously in 1974, and was created by Pall Grimsson and adapted for the screen by Nissar Modi (Breaking At The Edge).
This is a film I caught at Sundance and was completely blown away by, which is why I'm quoted there at the top of the poster. Robbie is especially impressive, proving she's so much more than just a pretty face. It's the best role of her brief career, and she holds up well opposite Ejiofor, which is no easy task. Z for Zachariah hits theaters on August 20th.
