Seal the Deal

Will works a dead-end job as a dancing seal mascot, promoting useless gadgets for miserable pay. His apartment is falling apart yet overpriced, and life only gets worse—ignored, mocked, and harassed, even by online pranksters exploiting his suffering for views. His only escape is dreaming of becoming a real seal, free and accepted. When he loses everything, he nearly gives up—until an unexpected group finally sees him for who he is.

Director’s statement
Slovenia ranks among the highest in suicide rates, yet paradoxically, it also has one of the lowest taxes on wealth and real estate in Europe. Young people are staying with their parents longer than the European average, as renting even a modest flat can cost nearly half of a median wage. For many, a regular income is out of reach.
Suicidal behavior has been increasing among younger generations, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, with rising rates of depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. It seems that the struggles of today’s youth are overlooked, ignored, or misunderstood. Ironically, the same generations who overlook their children and grandchildren’s struggles are quick to label them as "lazy" and "uninterested"—yet they worry about the future of the nation.
This film explores the life of a young man struggling to survive and maintain his will to live. Its final message is clear: we must keep fighting, even when the outcome is uncertain and, at times, tragic.