Sileo is a recent animated short film by Hungarian filmmaker and animator Demeter Lorant, who wrote, directed, animated, and scored the project over the span of three years.

Meet “GEFF”, a robotic factory worker programmed to work an assembly line, continuously repairing broken parts. Occasionally, GEFF’s own parts wear down and break, but are immediately repaired and rebuilt by the automated factory’s central computer system. Eventually, GEFF makes the realization that it likes being “GEFF” and begins to wonder if the constant repairs and upgrades will eventually cause it to lose its sense of identity. Seeking answers to this question, GEFF leaves the factory and sets out to find its creator.

GEFF’s journey takes it through a fully-realized futuristic cityscape notably devoid of any sign of human activity. GEFF does pass by what appears to be digital recreations of human artifacts and artwork on its travels, offering some hints that life presumably existed here at one time. While the computer animation on display is quite detailed and impressive, I don’t think I’d go as far as to call it “jaw-dropping” or “breathtaking”. In fact, the effect here is more “cold” and “mechanical”, which is presumably intended. (That said, I’m sure that there is a compelling argument to be made that the “intended” effect is quite the opposite of my interpretation.)

The film concludes, naturally, with GEFF meeting its creator. While the ending will surely be interpreted differently by each viewer, there are signs of hope to be offered, but also a solid dose of cynicism and trepidation for the future, and possibly for GEFF itself.

At only just under 8 minutes long, Sileo is fairly slow-moving, focusing more on establishing an atmosphere and tone than providing visual treats, shocks, or really much of anything that you’d call “action”. Some viewers will undoubtedly be turned off by what appears to be an overall lack of things happening. Others may appreciate the sense of silence and isolation found within a world devoid of life that this approach helps convey. I consider myself to be in that latter crowd.

Sileo is currently hitting the festival circuit, but should be widely available to watch online near the end of the year. For more information on Sileo, as well as other films from Demeter Lorant, be sure to check out Full Screen Films (https://www.fullscreenfilms.net/) Until then, you can watch a trailer for Sileo below.