Pablo Berger’s “Robot Dreams” is an endearing story about friendship and creativity that utilizes animation as a mode to narrate a tale that is otherwise unachievable. The director of “Blancanieves” manages to weave magic without dialogues by creating a film that is at one point poetic and at another, an artistic endeavor that explores the depths of emotions, and easily zones the audience into a reality where robots desire more than just electric sheep. It’s a film that while struggling to remain cohesive during its feature-length duration, manages to win the audience over time and time again with its eccentricities. Animation has exercised the power of dreams more than any other form of art, and Berger’s movie only complements the previous works that shattered the archaic conventional storytelling techniques.
There are two main protagonists in the movie “Robot Dreams”, however, in the setting of New York in 1984 is almost a third protagonist. It’s not just the iconic landmarks like the World Trade Center and the Empire State Building, but the lively characters from finger-flipping punks to colorful break dancers that add life to the film. This is the version of the Big Apple which Berger and his collaborators have fashioned and it is as though they have crafted a love letter to the city that is always alive and breathing.
Amidst all this, the plotline of a character referred to as Dog, plays out. From the start, the dog with his kind eyes and sideways grin comes off as an endearing animated character who attempts to fight his feelings of lonesomeness in a sprawling city that seems to be filled with couples. In an attempt against being single in a city where feeling alone is a conscious feeling, the dog decides to buy a companion via mail and in the process introduces Robot into his life. The duo get along very well and can be seen casually strolling around Manhattan as they choreograph a dance for ‘September’ a well-known Earth, Wind and Fire song, the catchy phrase “Do you remember?” best encapsulates the theme of lost friendships, altercations and getting lost in the glory that is an American city.
As summer approaches, Dogs and Robots often head to the beach. However, the cute metal man’s joints rust after swimming, making it impossible for Dog to carry him back. When he returns, he discovers that the gates are closed. This means that for several months, the Robot remains stranded on that beach in that position. And he hallucinated. Dog leads his life and does some of his fantasies, but “Robot Dreams” is about a relationship that has been destroyed that is very sensual and leaves marks on the memory of each part of the damaged whole. Sounds absurd but it is something like “Past Lives” meets “Zootopia”.
Whether you think it is true or not, it is effective. This is mostly due to Berger’s ceaseless imagination in relation to the plot of the comic book of the same title by Sara Varon. After all, there are no constraints in a film dealing with dreaming robots. For instance, why not show a snowman who bowls with his big head? Why not have birds perched on Robot’s head singing “Danny Boy”? Why not have a show-stopping Busby Berkeley-type choreographed song along the Yellow Brick Road? Obviously, Dog and Robot enjoyed “The Wizard of Oz.” After all, so did Toto, who had a metal buddy as well.
In all fairness, after that fascinating number where you feel the duration of “Robot Dreams,” there is some wheel spinning that could have been shorter or had greater exploration of concepts in the second half.
It is easy to feel warm towards this film which is tender and generous, even though it does not exactly cross the borders of greatness in regard to its capacity and artistry. The film in itself is sweet in its nature while at the same time not feeling overly manipulated.
The movie as a whole gently nudges us to question, “Do we actually remember these relationships?” The video portrays the ostensible complexities involved with a relationship. It tackles the question through the eye of a dream; it portrays shaping moments in a relationship that are indescribable.
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