{"id":24963,"date":"2025-09-04T14:59:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T18:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/news\/?post_type=story&p=24963"},"modified":"2025-09-04T15:16:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T19:16:15","slug":"aylwards-oblivion-film-wins-festival-prize","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/news\/2025\/09\/04\/aylwards-oblivion-film-wins-festival-prize\/","title":{"rendered":"Aylward\u2019s \u2018Oblivion\u2019 film wins festival prize"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

Lukas Pappenfusscline and Tyler Bouque in a scene from John Aylward\u2019s \u201cOblivion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In August 2022, The Grind in the Higgins University Center was transformed into a movie set. But for the duration of the shoot, the actors never spoke a word on film. The production was \u201cOblivion,\u201d a one-act chamber opera composed by Professor John Aylward<\/a> and inspired by Dante\u2019s \u201cPurgatorio\u201d \u2014 which explores the concepts of memory, identity, and redemption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this year, the film was awarded the \u201cBest Musical Film\u201d prize at the World Film Festival in Cannes<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOblivion\u201d follows two amnesiac Wanderers through a modern conception of a kind of Purgatory. With an accompanying ensemble of viola, cello, contrabass, electric guitar, and electronics, the story explores what might be gained from remembering one\u2019s own life, and whether remembrance brings knowledge and perspective or pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n