The Arc of Oblivion

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The Arc of Oblivion

2024

1h 38m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

17 Reviews

94%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

THE ARC OF OBLIVION explores a quirk of humankind: in a universe that erases its tracks, we humans are hellbent on leaving a trace. Set against the backdrop of the filmmaker's quixotic quest to build an ark in a field in Maine, the film heads far afield -- to salt mines in the Alps, fjords in the Arctic, and ancient libraries in the Sahara -- to illuminate the strange world of archives, record-keeping, and memory. Playfully weaving stop-motion animation, spellbinding cinematography and fascinating interviews from the director's inner circle and experts in the fields of science, culture and art -- including documentarians Werner Herzog and Kirsten Johnson -- THE ARC OF OBLIVION reveals how nature inspires the human drive behind filmmaking.

Christy Lemire

FilmWeek (LAist)

Mar 22, 2024

I love it so much -- it works so beautifully on so many different levels.

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Alissa Wilkinson

New York Times

Feb 15, 2024

In his attempt to imagine why, and how, we try to preserve memories, Cheney unearths something beautiful: We want to remember not just ourselves, but other people, and that’s what’s behind the efforts.

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Matt Zoller Seitz

RogerEbert.com

Mar 17, 2023

4/4

"Arc of Oblivion" is a documentary about a lot of things, including the futility of its own existence.

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Manuel Betancourt

FilmWeek (LAist)

Mar 22, 2024

I just love that I never knew where it was exactly going to go.

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Morgan Rojas

Cinemacy

Feb 22, 2024

'The Arc of Oblivion' playfully explores the human desire for keepsakes amidst an ever-evolving world.

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Michael J. Casey

Boulder Weekly

Feb 22, 2024

3.5 / 5

Combines investigative journalism, talking head experts, stop-motion animation and revealing self-analysis. It’s as serious as it is playful and ends on a poetic note.

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Nye N.

@nye2025 Sep 20, 2025

Pretentious documentary with real rich kid project vibes, and a cringy intro to boot, but it eventually gets into admittedly interesting philosophical and scientific topics. This film likely would have been better in the hands of more likeable people.

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Ian Cheney

Director

Meredith DeSalazar

Producer

Manette Pottle

Producer

Rebecca Taylor

Producer

Greg Boustead

Executive Producer

Jessica Harrop

Executive Producer

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Synopsis

THE ARC OF OBLIVION explores a quirk of humankind: in a universe that erases its tracks, we humans are hellbent on leaving a trace. Set against the backdrop of the filmmaker's quixotic quest to build an ark in a field in Maine, the film heads far afield -- to salt mines in the Alps, fjords in the Arctic, and ancient libraries in the Sahara -- to illuminate the strange world of archives, record-keeping, and memory. Playfully weaving stop-motion animation, spellbinding cinematography and fascinating interviews from the director's inner circle and experts in the fields of science, culture and art -- including documentarians Werner Herzog and Kirsten Johnson -- THE ARC OF OBLIVION reveals how nature inspires the human drive behind filmmaking.

Director: Ian Cheney
Producer: Meredith DeSalazar, Manette Pottle, Rebecca Taylor
Distributor: Abramorama
Production Co: Sandbox Films (II)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 16, 2024, Limited
Runtime: 1h 38m

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