‘Robot Dreams’ REVIEW: A bittersweet love story between a dog and a robot
‘Robot Dreams’ REVIEW: A bittersweet love story between a dog and a robot
An anthropomorphic dog named Dog feels lonely in his apartment building one evening as he tries to play video games, watch TV, and eat his microwaved food for dinner — all by himself. From his window, he catches his neighbor cuddling with their significant other in their living room. Dog quietly yearns for this, and witnessing this tender moment makes him feel even worse.
When will he ever find someone to share moments with? Is his life always going to be like this? Just then, an advertisement pops up on the TV — a robot designed to fulfill the need for companionship, which is perfect for what he needs at the moment. Curious and excited, Dog immediately picks up the phone to order this promising product.
This is just the opening scene of Robot Dreams, an Oscar-nominated animated feature film co-produced by Spain and France. We follow Dog and his new companion, Robot, as they embark on adventures through 1980s New York City, where the film takes place.
Robot and Dog holding hands while walking through the snowy streets of New York City in Robot Dreams | Still from TMDb
The film starts off with a feel-good mood as our two central characters explore their relationship. Dog is no longer alone; he now has a partner for everything, albeit a robotic one. They eat together, visit some tourist spots, play video games, watch TV, and even roller skate at the park to the tune of Earth, Wind & Fire's "September" in front of a lively crowd. It's a magical moment, especially for Dog, who finally feels like he's found someone.
But one day, a trip to the beach sets off a series of unfortunate events that test and challenge their relationship, ultimately leading to their separation for a year.
Dog tries to fill the void left by Robot by participating in all kinds of social activities in hopes of finding new friends and connections. Meanwhile, Robot, still waiting for Dog, has his misadventures and “dreams” during his time of isolation. The plot unfolds like an episodic sitcom full of visual gags — a series of situations that each of them find themselves in. But the strength of its storytelling is in how it alternates back and forth between their perspectives as they navigate their days without companionship and how they cope with the loneliness associated with it.
Robot and Dog seeing the Golden Gate Bridge in Robot Dreams | Still from TMDb
The friendship between our two characters is easily immersive, and you find yourself rooting for them. I believe this has something to do with how cute they are with each other, despite both being anthropomorphic and robotic. With each passing day, both characters are slowly being fleshed out — Dog is truly desperate for genuine interaction, while Robot is gradually gaining individuality.
Underneath its colorful animation, wacky world-building, and quirky characters, the film radiates an aura of existential melancholy in every frame. The desire for human connection is one of its central themes — ironic, given that the film just features a bunch of anthropomorphic characters. Yet, this is where the film’s beauty lies. By using non-human characters, director Pablo Berger creates a narrative that is more universal, ensuring that it can resonate with audiences of all ages, and that connection can transcend species and form.
Plus, the film has no dialogue, only sounds from the characters and their environment, which further enhances its theme of isolation and introspection. A film is, first and foremost, a visual medium, and Berger uses this to a tee, highlighting the state and mood of the characters through the setting they’re in and the expressive emotions they use to effectively convey what they feel at the moment without the need for words.
One could debate the nature of Dog and Robot's relationship. Is it platonic? Romantic? Does it matter? One thing is certain: this is a story about love. The experience of bonding with someone special, forming a deep connection, and then enduring the pain of losing them and trying to move on is something most of us have felt. Robot Dreams poignantly captures this kind of heartbreak.
‘Robot Dreams’ was one of the films screened at PELÍCULA>PELIKULA 2024. Manila Spanish Film Festival last October 06, 2024. The film festival will run until October 13, 2024. For the schedule of other screenings, visit the Instituto Cervantes de Manila’s Facebook Page.
