ROBOT DREAMS, Spain, 2023. Directed by Pablo Berger. 102 minutes. Rated PG (Mild themes and coarse language)
Here is an animation film with great appeal to younger audiences and good entertainment for older audiences. While it is a Spanish animation production, it is very much geared for English-speaking audiences around the world. Based on a comic book of 2007, but set in New York City in 1984 (and, for contemporary audiences, the frequent presentation of the Twin Towers evokes memories of 9/11 and its consequences).
While there are numerous signs in English – roadsigns, shops, the subway – only a word or two of exclamation is heard throughout the whole film, although there are a range of songs in the background and their lyrics. To that extent, the film works like a silent film, the audience responding to the characters and interactions. And, given the characters, the wordless narrative means the film is easily accessible even to small children.
The animation style is enjoyable. It is amazing to watch how much can be discovered about characters with simple drawing. Here it is mainly through the eyes and the mouth. The eyes are simply circles with black dots – but the movement of the eyes is extraordinarily lively. As regards the mouth, it is a simple small curve line, able to smile, able to look disappointed – and, sometimes opened to communicate communication. The impact of the story and characters depends on this. There is also the vivid background of New York City; its streets and shops, and visits to Ocean Beach.
The central character is Dog. The opening illustrates how alone he is in his apartment, watching television and playing computer games. Suddenly Dog sees an advertisement for a companion robot. Dog orders it, puts it together, and the robot comes alive – with its eyes and its mouth indicating an inner life as well as affection for Dog, and the capacity for imitating anything and everything. The joy of the early part of the film consists of the various exclusions and sharing between Robot and Dog, especially an excursion to Ocean Beach.
However, with all the pleasant scenes, there are some sad sequences. Robot’s battery dies and he becomes immobile on the beach, stranded there for months because the beach closes for winter. Dog does his best to retrieve Robot but is ousted by the severe guards.
And the dreams of the title? Robot does have some moments where he seems to be rescued, returning to Dog with reconciliation, only to find he has been dreaming. And, in his sadness, Dog has a variety of dreams. And the content of the dream and the emotion plays with the emotions of the audience.
There is a variety of incidents which also appeal, birds on the windowsill watching Dog quitting robot together, a bird on the beach and her three chicks and their learning to fly, a team of rabbits who come ashore and who take part of Robot to plug the rowboat.
There is the animal with the metal detector on the beach, discovering Robot leading to further adventures. And, then, a new character, school, who reconstructs robot. And, emotions, the playing of the song that both characters liked, the testing of affections . . .
A pleasing experience, excellent animation, and the wonder of responding to appearances, body language, without characters expressing themselves in words.
Madman
Released 11 April