A Whimsical, Heartrending tale of a Dog and his Droid
DIRECTED BY PABLO BERGER/2023
Premiering at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, Robot Dreams directed by Pablo Berger is a charming, narratively-minimalistic animated film that tugs at the heartstrings with its exploration of loneliness, grief, longing, and separation. While the film’s second act meanders a bit, it finds redemption in a powerful third act that delivers an emotionally walloping conclusion.
At its core, Robot Dreams is an adorable tale that unfolds in the bustling streets of Manhattan. The protagonist, a lovable dog, seeks companionship and, in a stroke of creative genius, decides to build a robot companion. The story is beautifully simple, yet profound in its exploration of the human experience, or in this case, the canine experience.
The film’s early sequences capture the heartwarming joy of companionship as the dog and its mechanical friend embark on adventures throughout the city. The animation, under Berger’s direction, brings Manhattan to life with vibrant colors and playful imagery, creating a visually enchanting world for audiences of all ages.
As the narrative unfolds, Robot Dreams takes a poignant turn when circumstances force the dog to part ways with its robot companion on a beach. This shift introduces themes of sadness and longing, delving into the emotional complexities of separation. The film adeptly uses its limited dialogue to convey the depth of the dog’s emotions.
However, the middle of the film doesn’t seem aimless per se, and is directed with purpose, and the whole point of the film is the separation, yet I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that what was lost in their separation more hurt the chemistry of the film instead of acted as a catalyst.
That said, even with any impatience at this, it all comes together beautifully in the end. With a final scene not only rivaling Past Lives as one of the most powerful final moments in a film this year, but also surprisingly as resonant in its thematic similarities as Past Lives.
