Bar Trash: 2019: AFTER THE FALL OF NEW YORK (1983)

“MANKIND WILL PREVAIL IF IT CAN SURVIVE THE YEAR 2019…”


BAR TRASH continues our 14th sensational season — TRASH PLANET 3: APOCALYPSE! — with one of the defining films of the Italian rush to replicate the success of MAD MAX (1979), Sergio Martino’s 2019: AFTER THE FALL OF NEW YORK aka '2019 - Dopo la caduta di New York' (1983).


Twenty years after the nuclear firestorm, warring factions battle for control of what is left of Planet Earth and a desperate search begins for the last fertile woman left alive in the smouldering ruins of New York… After an explosive opening deep in the radioactive wastelands — with all the modified cars and gladiatorial gore you could wish for! — Sergio Martino’s 2019: AFTER THE FALL OF NEW YORK continues with a plot lifted straight from John Carpenter’s ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981). More sci-fi than many of its mutant siblings, Martino’s epic adventure features cyborgs, spaceships, laser canons, centurions on horseback, cryogenics, and a toxic soup of genetic mutations.


There are many contenders to the ‘Maxsploitation’ crown — and more than a few duds that didn’t exactly set the world on fire — but 2019: AFTER THE FALL OF NEW YORK is a video era classic that’s packed-full of atmosphere, strong set-pieces, eye-popping design, and lurid special effects:


“This is the best movie from the Italian post-apocalyptic movie canon. It has the best production values, the most interesting story, and a hero who’s just shy of being as cool as Snake Plisskin.” (David J. Moore, ‘World Gone Wild: A Survivor’s Guide to Post-Apocalyptic Movies’).


Polite notice: We are presenting 2019: AFTER THE FALL OF NEW YORK with its original English language dub and subtitles from a recent 4K restoration of a French print, rated ’18’ for scenes of ‘strong bloody violence’. The film offers an exploitation era amplification of social injustice, including themes of ableism, race and gender inequality as a consequence of patriarchal power (at the push of a button).


/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo and friends. Films are served with themed drinks, introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets from £3.50 + fees. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo or visit tokenhomo.com for all the gory details. ///