A wooden machine runs through a deserted, toxic world, powered by the energy of a tree it carries with it. It serves as a safe habitat for a tiny human, who is constantly busy freeing the gears from the tree’s more vigorous roots. As the human leaves the wooden walker to cut a root snagged on the ground that has caused it to stall, the growths gain control of the controls and eventually cause the machine to hurl itself off a cliff. While the man and his artificial habitat do not survive, the tree can finally dig its roots into the ground.

The film is screened as part of the short film program DEPARTURES
Five short films that explore the unknown, the universe’s unanswered mysteries, and humanity’s eternal longing to understand its place in the cosmos. With both humor and creativity, these films open doors to new worlds, visions, and ideas — as dizzying as they are imaginative.

Frozen Bliss by Rasmus Lindkvist
Holzläufer by Philipp Krautschick
4032 Sunrises by Lena Bergendahl & Jennifer Rainsford
Press the Button by Samuel Fjellner
Syndromeda by Patrik Eklund
1h 10min