The Arc Of Oblivion
Filmmaker Ian Cheney’s plan to build an ark takes him on a wonderfully whimsical journey that involves unexpected twists and turns, and surprise guests (Werner Herzog included).
The physical ark is built, with the help of a wood-savvy neighbour, on the filmmaker’s parents’ farm in rural Maine. His mission to find out what’s worth saving, or whether anything truly lasts, takes him around the globe. Award-winning director Cheney (Picture Character, SFF 2019) talks to a dendrologist, geologist, ceramicist, cosmologist, mycologist, palaeontologist and more. He films in a salt mine, on Arctic fjords, in the ruins of an ancient Saharan library – and finally, within the smooth panelled walls of his newly constructed ark. Cheney’s quest to illuminate the world of archives, record-keeping and memory is an unconventional documentary delight. 
- Program Strand
- International Documentaries
- Year
- 2023
- Classification
- All Ages
- Country
- USA
- Language
- In English and French with English subtitles
- Director
- Ian Cheney
- Producer
- Meredith DeSalazar, Manette Pottle, Rebecca Taylor
- Screenwriter
- Ian Cheney
- Cinematographer
- Ezra Wolfinger
- Editor
- Ian Cheney
- Premiere
- Australian Premiere
- Genre
- Off-Beat, Documentary
- Company Credits
- Production Company: Sandbox Films
