Air Post: A weirdly charming flight through history

Is it worth your time?

If you like old-school documentary shorts that don't try to be anything other than what they are, sure, give it a spin. If you need high-octane thrills or even a plot with stakes, you'll probably hate it. It's a slow burn, but like, a really slow burn.

There's something oddly soothing about watching mail get sorted in the 1920s. Geoffrey Clark has this intense, focused energy that makes you feel like the fate of the world rests on a single postcard from Birmingham. I mean, it doesn't, obviously. But he acts like it does.

The pacing is… well, it's non-existent. It just happens. It reminds me a bit of Day by Day in Every Way, where you’re just observing people do their jobs. No music swells to tell you how to feel, just the sound of the wind and the engines.

Speaking of the engines, the shots of the plane taking off are great. They aren't polished. They’re shaky and feel like they could fall apart at any second. It’s not like those big studio shots you see in Paris-Cinéma where everything is framed perfectly. This is raw stuff.

Small things I noticed:

• Clark barely blinks. Like, at all.
• The mail bags look surprisingly heavy. My back hurt just watching him lift them.
• One of the mechanics in the background is clearly struggling to keep a straight face.
• There is a shot of a cloud that goes on for way, way too long. I think the camera operator fell asleep? ☁️

It’s not trying to be a deep dive into aviation tech or a heroic saga. It’s just showing you how a package moves from point A to point B. Sometimes that's enough, right? I kept waiting for some kind of disaster, like a bird strike or a lost letter, but nothing happens. Just flying.

If you’re into the history of transit, it pairs well with Whispering Palms, if only for the vibe of watching people just exist in a different era. It’s not cinematic gold, but it’s real. And sometimes that’s all I need on a Tuesday night. ✈️