Robot Dreams (2024)

Pablo Berger's absolutely fabulous animation appeals superbly to both adults and children, and it was rightly nominated for an Oscar earlier this year. During a film almost completely lacking in dialogue, a lonely dog buys himself a robot companion, and the pair of them become best friends in an animal filled New York City in the 1980's.

The animation is rich and packed with knowing nods to the period- Dog sleeps with Star Wars models on his window sill, his love of the previous decade also compounded by a poster of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon behind his bed. The Twin Towers also loom large over the city, built the same year Dark Side of the Moon was released, and every detailed shot of the film feels like it's been lovingly crafted, which compliments a truly loving film from start to finish.

Dog lives on his own in a tiny apartment, eating microwave meals and renting VHS tapes, whilst seeing couples lovingly snuggle up in neighboring apartments. He's clearly lonely, and doesn't have any sort of social life it seems, so when he sees an advert on his television for a robot companion, he purchases one and eagerly awaits its arrival.

What follows is a glorious section of companionship as the two become best friends after Dog has assembled his robot, told through a wonderful montage as the pair set about New York. We're rocked (even though we know its coming, it's in the trailer) when Robot breaks at the beach, after a lengthy dip in the ocean, and Dog is forced to leave him there while he considers how to get his friend back home. His various attempts are thwarted by authorities alongside the beach closing for the season, and Dog is crestfallen, pinning a note to his fridge; on it the date on which the beach reopens.

We then traverse through a middle section from which the film gets its title; Robot seemingly finds ways to escape his beach prison only to realise he's dreaming, whilst Dog tries to find ways to lift his spirits and wind away the days until he can reclaim Robot. At this stage it's impossible to know how the story ends, and I'm certainly not going to give anything away; but suffice to say the ending (and several points during) had me in absolute pieces.

Robot Dreams is a film about loneliness, companionship, love and happiness; and is told with such humour, tenderness and relatability, it would take a stone-cold narcissist to get nothing from it. There's no doubt whatsoever it's one of the finest animations of recent years, but I'd go further than that and say it's one of the best films of recent times full-stop.

It's such a shame that because it's a Spanish-French production it's got such a tiny release here; this should be seen by as many people as possible, adults and children alike. I was lucky enough to see it at an independent cinema in West Sussex (New Park Cinema in Chichester, one of the counties' finest) with my six year old daughter, and it's something we've been looking forward to for some time; and it exceeded all expectations.

This is cinema at its most magnificently joyous, and should be seen by everyone at the earliest opportunity. 8.8/10