The Burden

This animated musical is set in a shopping center located next to a busy highway. Through various locations including a hotel, a fast food restaurant, a call center, and a supermarket, singing animals such as dogs, monkeys, fish, and rats express their existential anxiety and the pressures of daily life. The story explores the idea of finding liberation through a massive catastrophe.

Written and directed by Niki Lindroth von Bahr, this 2017 Swedish production was the first in a series of films by the director, followed by The House in 2022 and The End in 2026. The short film features a runtime of 15 minutes and utilizes auto-tuned music composed by Klungan. It was produced by Svenska Filminstitutet and Film i Väst, with Kalle Wettre serving as the producer.

The film has been received positively by viewers. It holds a rating of 7.1/10 on IMDb based on 817 votes and a rating of 7.2/10 on TMDB from 26 votes.