Synopsis

On the hottest day of summer, a tall and exhausted man walks through the city with a bottle of water and a faded orange cap. To others, he appears almost ordinary. But he is a cetacean-like being who has lived in human form for a long time, sustained by pills that allow him to keep his appearance. As the heat worsens and the effect of his final pill begins to fade, his body can no longer fully disguise itself. His eyes, skin, hands, breath, and hidden aquatic features begin to reveal what he really is. He moves through crowded streets, shadows, alleyways, an aquarium storefront, and forgotten urban spaces, trying to reach an old building before the medicine wears off. Each time he takes this route, he pauses in front of the same shark tank. The tank is too small for the shark, and for a brief moment his breath slows and the pain recedes. It is the only place on the journey where he can breathe. At the end of a quiet corridor, there is an indoor swimming pool: his oasis. It is a place where he no longer needs pills, a cap, or a human appearance. A place where he can wash his tired body, breathe again, and gather the strength to return to the world.