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.