The Surprised Watchman poster

The Surprised Watchman

Absurdity is closer than it seems.

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At the border between the earthly and the otherworldly sits an old watchman, observing a fly. His thoughts are interrupted by a strange young man who asks, “How do I get to heaven?” What follows is an absurd, at times comical and unsettling dialogue filled with mistrust and irony. The watchman, bound by routine, faces something beyond logic. The young man, without a ticket but full of conviction, insists heaven awaits him. In the quiet, mysterious ending, the young man vanishes, leaving only a white feather — and a question: what was that? A short animated parable about boundaries, misunderstanding, and the mystery of crossing worlds, with absurdist humor in the spirit of Kharms or Kafka.

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Status
Released
Budget
—
Box office
—
Language
English
  • israel animation
  • the surprised watchman
  • dudov

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Gallery

Still from The Surprised WatchmanStill from The Surprised WatchmanStill from The Surprised Watchman

Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • PremiereCultural Animation Film Festival, Honolulu22 May 2026
  • GeorgiaGE

    • PremiereLive Screenings International Film Festival, Tbilisi28 May 2026
  • IsraelIL

    • PremiereJerusalem Film Festival17 Jul 2025
    • Theatrical (limited)ANIMIX - Tel Aviv Animation Festival5 Aug 2025
  • RussiaRU

    • PremiereOpen Russian Festival of Animated Film19 Mar 2026

Frequently asked questions

The Surprised Watchman was released on 5 August 2025.

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