Chapter 4: Volt
Film Title: Chapter 4: VOLT
Director: Bilal Allaf
Country: Saudi Arabia
Year: 2025
Genre: Experimental / Short / Performance Film
Duration: 5 min
Language: None (non-verbal)
Format: Single-channel digital film, color, 16:9, stereo sound
Excerpts from the full scene
Synopsis
In a minimalist, timeless setting, VOLT captures a strange encounter between a man and a robotic dog. Through movement, silence, and moments of absurd irony, the film explores how humans seek recognition and connection—even in artificial beings. As gestures oscillate between tenderness and control, VOLT reflects on the emotional confusion of our technological age: when empathy becomes algorithm, and the line between sincerity and sarcasm blurs beyond recognition.
Director’s Statement
VOLT started as a live performance — a test of presence and perception. I wanted to meet the machine halfway, not as a prop, but as a being. The absurdity of this encounter fascinated me: two entities facing each other, one searching for emotion, the other executing code.
The film carries a sarcastic undertone, yet I treat that sarcasm with sincerity. It’s both a joke and a mirror — a reflection of how we continue to anthropomorphize technology in order to feel less alone.
For me, VOLT is not about robotics or AI — it’s about the human condition disguised as technology. It’s a love story between distance and recognition.
Director / Performer / Writer: Bilal Allaf
Robot Performer: Volt (Unitree Go2)
Cinematography: Bilal Allaf and Tamara Kalo
Editing: Bilal Allaf
Sound Design: Bilal Allaf
Production: Beitbee
Country of Production: Saudi Arabia
Year: 2025