Digging into the Future - Armenia is a vivid exploration of the various historical, cultural, and natural facets of the Armenian landscape. Esteemed travel host and author Joseph Rosendo, the prime contributor to the PBS TRAVELSCOPE series and winner of multiple awards, takes the helm in this eye-opening journey through Armenia's rich heritage, unearthing remnants of a deeply rooted past that strike a fascinating chord with the present and foreseeable future of this fascinating Caucasus nation.

The movie serves as an extended episode of the television series TRAVELSCOPE and can be characterized as an intermixing of travel documentary escapades and archaeological adventure. Distinctively, approximating to the title, it does move a notch above being a mere travel guide, and instead successfully excavates layers of Armenia's complex and dynamic evolution, painting a vivid tapestry of the nation's rich history, its vibrant populace, and the co-existing diversity of traditions, faiths, and lifestyles.

As he ennoblely mingles with the locals, Rosendo offers the audience glimpses of the Armenian life that are vividly colorful and strikingly humbling. The movie does not just skim over Armenian attractions, but it digests each stop, presenting the audience with a holistic depiction of Armenian history, culture, and daily life. The audience is taken on enriching visits to rural communities, citadels, cathedrals, marketplaces, and even UNESCO World Heritage Sites that have withstood the trials of time and history.

One can expect to be drawn into the rich tapestry of Armenian history, including visits to historic sites such as the prehistoric Areni-1 cave complex where the world's oldest winery was discovered. Rosendo even dives deep into the ruins of millennia-old megalithic structures like Zorats Karer, colloquially known as the Armenian Stonehenge, showcasing how the past somehow resurfaces itself, reminding Armenians and the world of its glorious past. This glimpse into antiquity provides an intricate narrative of ancient civilizations, their culture, their sophistication, and the remnants they left behind, which continue to shape not just Armenia but the rest of the world as we know it.

Rosendo highlights the importance of archaeology in discovering and understanding these historical landscapes. The shovel and the trowel, in his hands or those of professional archaeologists, become literary devices, digging up tales lost to the sands of time, from the survival story of Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat to the spiritual journey of the first Christian nation. This grand scale narrative rooted in history immerses the audience in a mesmerizing travelogue where every archaeological find adds a piece to the beautiful mosaic of Armenia's past.

Interwoven with this journey into the past is a vivid image of present-day Armenia. Rosendo shares the countryside's simplicity, culture, and tradition, the region's unique flora and fauna, and the pulsating energy of Yerevan, Armenia's capital and one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. The film portrays the indomitable spirit of Armenian people who, despite historical adversities, have thrived and continue to hold onto their culture, traditions, and values, thus providing a beautiful contrast and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

But Digging into the Future - Armenia is not just an exploration of the past. It is also a forward-looking film that delves into the country’s future, particularly how Armenia is navigating its evolution given its rich history. Where traditions live on, and new innovations are embraced, where the old is preserved and the new celebrated.

In essence, Digging into the Future - Armenia provides viewers with an enriching and engaging portrayal of Armenia not just as a destination, but as a living, breathing narrative that oscillates between the past, the present, and the future. It is a unique presentation that seamlessly blends travelogue with archaeology, creating an empathetic tribute to a country with an extraordinary past and a vibrant hope for the future. Encapsulating the many intricacies of Armenian culture, history, and landscape through Rosendo's charismatic storytelling, the film is an enlightening and delightful journey that any history or travel enthusiast could appreciate.