Plot introduction
Amegalithrisesfromasandydesert–orrather,ascalemodelofsuchalandscape.“Iamthearchive”,saysayoungfemalevoicewhileominousstringmusicnailsviewerstotheirseats.ThisopeningsetsthestageforthenarrativeandfigurativelanguageofRithyPanh’sdensemnemonicessaywhichusesstunningdioramastotellatwenty-firstcenturydystopianstory.Afteracenturyofgenocidalideologiesanddestructivespeciesism,animalshaveenslavedhumansandtakenovertheworld.Inawaveofhope,thestatuesofthepasthavebeenremovedbutnewonesarebeingerectedtosuppressthewillofthepeople.Thisisnowaplanetofapes,boarsandlions,andazoologicalrevolutionisreversingandrecreatingtheatrocitiesofthe20thcentury.Asanimalfigureswatchthefilmarchivesofourworld,itfeelsasifLumièrehasbeentransportedintoafilmbyMélièsorWillisH.O’Brien.Weareallwellawarethathistoryrepeatsitselffirstastragedy,thenasafarce.Thetimehasnowcomeforthisfarce,inwhich“politicallanguageinhabitsourdreamsandconsumesus”,toallowthepossibilityofa“gracefulandtenderinsubordination”toemerge.
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