HSE x ITS: The Alternative Cinema Poster Competition «Haulout» (2022)

By: Made Ayu Pravina Anjani

«Haulout» is a 2022 Russian documentary short film directed by Evgenia Arbugaeva and Maxim Arbugaev. The film follows a lone marine biologist, Maxim Chakilev, stationed in a remote Arctic outpost. He observes the annual migration of walruses, which are forced ashore in massive numbers due to shrinking sea ice caused by climate change. The documentary captures the stark and haunting reality of environmental changes affecting Arctic wildlife.

«Haulout» received critical acclaim for its powerful cinematography and minimalistic storytelling, highlighting the devastating impact of global warming. It was also nominated for Best Documentary Short at the 95th Academy Awards (2023).

«Burn» is a haunting metaphor woven into Haulout, symbolizing the slow and relentless destruction caused by human actions. Just as a cigarette burns before being crushed, the Arctic is warming—a consequence of human negligence that leads to suffering beyond what the eye can see. The image of a cigarette being extinguished on a pile of dead walruses mirrors this devastation: a quiet but brutal act, where life is snuffed out without a second thought. Forced ashore by melting ice, the walruses suffocate and trample one another—a tragic, indirect result of climate change. Burn is not just fire; it is the unseen hand of destruction, leaving scars on a world that cannot heal fast enough.

A lone walrus stands at the edge of a pool of melted ice, staring into its own reflection—its eyes empty, filled with quiet sorrow. Beside it, a human watches, their face heavy with regret. In the ice, their reflections merge for a moment—the walrus looking at itself, the human looking at what has been lost. The still water holds the weight of their gazes, a silent reminder of the irreversible impact of climate change.

A baby walrus sits beside its dead mother, its innocent eyes staring directly at us—full of sadness and confusion. Behind them, a faceless human stands, gripping a massive rifle. There is no expression, no identity—only the looming presence of something larger, something irreversible. The ice is cold and empty, offering no answers. The baby walrus does not look at the hunter but at us, as if asking why. Above, the title Haulout lingers in the silence, heavy with loss.

A human stands in the middle of a vast, melted ice field, surrounded by water where solid ground once existed. Their posture is heavy, their gaze fixed on the emptiness before them—the damage is done. Beside them, a walrus watches in silence, its eyes locked onto the human, as if waiting for an answer. No words are spoken, yet the weight of regret lingers in the cold air. Above them, the title Haulout fades like the disappearing ice, a stark reminder of what has been lost.

A human sits in a dimly lit Arctic shed, smoking and reading, seemingly undisturbed. But they are not alone. Massive walruses fill the space around them, their hulking bodies pressing against the walls, their breath heavy in the cold air. Some rest, others stare—silent, unblinking intruders in a place that was never theirs. Or was it? The human does not move, as if resigned to this quiet invasion, just as the walruses have been forced to endure ours. The space feels smaller, the roles reversed. Above, the title Haulout lingers, a quiet reminder that what we take, nature will take back.

A vast, snowy landscape stretches into the distance, but the untouched white is broken—tainted with deep red footprints leading forward. A human approaches, stepping on the blood-stained snow, their silhouette dark against the cold expanse. In their grip, a weapon hangs low, heavy with intent. Ahead, a lone walrus waits, its massive body still, its breath visible in the freezing air. It does not run. It does not hide. It only watches as destruction approaches.