The Postman (1997) is a post-apocalyptic drama film directed by and starring Kevin Costner. It is based on the 1985 novel of the same name by David Brin. The film is set in a dystopian future United States, where society has collapsed following a series of devastating events, and small, isolated communities struggle to survive. The movie blends elements of adventure, drama, and westerns, with a strong emphasis on hope and the restoration of civilization.

The story is set in 2013, after a series of cataclysmic wars have left the United States in disarray. Kevin Costner plays an unnamed drifter who stumbles upon the uniform and mailbag of a long-dead postal worker. Donning the uniform, he begins traveling between communities, delivering old letters as a way to barter for food and shelter. This small act of hope and connection inadvertently inspires people to believe in the idea of a restored United States.

The drifter’s actions eventually catch the attention of General Bethlehem (played by Will Patton), a brutal warlord who leads a militia called the Holnists. Bethlehem sees the revival of the postal service as a threat to his authoritarian rule. The drifter, now known as The Postman, becomes a symbol of resistance against Bethlehem’s oppressive rule and inspires others to take up the cause of rebuilding a united country.