Oscar Nominated Doc. Shorts-My Pick is Russia's Submission, HAULOT

The five nominated documentary shorts for this 2023 Oscar race, all deserve their place on the ballot.  My pick is the sullen, and deeply stirring film HAULOUT, filmed in the desolate expanse of the Serbian Arctic coast.  There's minimal dialogue in the film which focuses on a solitary figure living in a squalid  cabin by the shore.  The man is identified in the epilogue as Maxim Chakilev.  I was intrigued from the start.  Was this a film of a stoic figure who chose a life outside civilization?  Was this a nature or  anthropological study being done by this burly, chain smoker seen reading about the land's indigenous people?  This was a cinematographic marvel, slow to reveal what's its sleeve.  Our unbeknownst hero opens his wooden shutter to a startling panorama of walruses strewn from his cabin and into the sea.  This  doesn't startle our bloke who looks in need of a warm shower and clean clothes.  Maxim remains oblivious to the out of sight camera and speaks for the first time into a recorder in his native Russian,  He's reporting his estimate on the number of walruses that have come ashore.  These mammoth sea animals are imposing figures with long tusks, huge bulk and small heads.  These vocal and active creatures are intent to inspect  the insides of the cabin upon their turf.  Several try to access the hut by flailing their bodies through the door only to get stuck in the passage.  It requires a little physical prodding from Maxim who seems unperturbed or somewhat annoyed at most.  Shortly after, the great migration of walruses disperse.   Maxim walks amongst the carcasses of walruses caressed by the ebb and flow of the waves.  The morning fog palette enhances a deep sense of loss.  Maxim is noting the age and sex of the dead animals.   He comes upon a mother and her calf whom he first reports as both deceased.  But, the calf slowly raises its snout in a beseeching look for help.  Maxim turns away from the calf who rambles into the water leaving behind hope for its survival.  The ending captions identify Maxim as a marine biologist whose been studying the walruses' migratory paths for the last decade.  We're informed these majestic creatures have been coming to these shores to rest during mating season due to climate change melting the ice that had provided them essential ground for survival.   Each of the past ten years have shown increases in walrus deaths.   They are killed from being trampled and smothered on what limited haulout remains available.  This powerful and haunting documentary should win the Oscar.   More importantly, it should serve to motivate us to take-up arms to combat climate change while there's still time.