‘Robot Dreams’ Review: An Amazing Ode to Loneliness Without Words

In Pablo Berger’s Robot Dreams, the real treasure is the mail-ordered friends we literally made along the way. With not an ounce of dialogue, the Spanish director simultaneously spins a tale of friendship and connection while making its abundantly clear how profound loneliness can be. Who knew a dog and robot BFF story could get so deep?

Based on Sara Varon’s graphic novel, this Oscar-nominated film takes place over the course of about one year, beginning with a fleeting but lasting connection between an unlikely pair, separated through absolutely avoidable circumstances. A simply beautiful use of animation, music, and sound to explore isolation and interconnectedness, Robot Dreams will be one of the more impactful, touching films you see this year — all without saying a word.

Robot Dreams premiered at Cannes Film Festival last year, then hit the Toronto International Film Festival, all to critical acclaim. Now finally hitting U.S. theatres this summer, Robot Dreams is about to seize a whole new audience by the heart.

What is Robot Dreams about?

Set in ’80s Manhattan, Robot Dreams introduces you to Dog, who lives by himself in the East Village. In an attempt to assuage his loneliness, Dog impulse-buys a build-it-yourself buddy off the TV, the Amica 2000. To us, the name’s Robot. In this reality, there are robots for cleaning, security, tutoring, and sports, but Robot appears specifically designed for friendship (they exist).

Technology-assisted friendship with robots has fascinated writers and filmmakers for decades, from Steven Spielberg’s A.I. Artificial Intelligence to Alex Garland’s Ex Machina, among countless others. Hell, even Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein counts. But in Robot Dreams, a giddy summer of love between canine and robot is unique in itself, and impactful enough to make their frantic hope for reunion the only thing you’ll care about for two hours.

Contrary to what it looks like in the trailers, Robot and Dog actually spend the majority of the film apart. What?! Through a series of unfortunate, saltwater-related events, Robot is stuck rusting at the beach for months, using their imagination as a means to escape inanimate coastal peril and deal with the fact that they’re being treated like literal junk. The film functions as a series of vignettes in Dog and Robot’s lives after their summer together, moving toward the film’s deeply emotional, Bridges of Madison County-level climax.

Rather than offering an overt high-five to friendship, Robot Dreams is essentially a story of deep (and deeply relatable) loneliness in a city of millions, of being lifted up and left behind.

Robot Dreams is a portrait of loneliness like no other.

At its core, Robot Dreams is a poignant exploration of the highs of feeling seen and included, as well as the lows of feeling forgotten or discarded. Dog’s reflection in the TV screen is a constant reminder of his solo life, as are the happy couples he can’t avoid seeing, whether through a neighbour’s apartment window, on a ski vacation, or just trying to take a damn walk in Central Park.

Across the city, on a deserted Coney Island beach, the bright orange towel Robot was left on has become a sort of prison; Robot has nothing to do but embrace falling snowflakes, make friends with the coastal wildlife, and dream away the months. Jealousy and betrayal plague Robot’s dreams, as their feelings of abandonment become increasingly painful. Meanwhile, Dog seeks out new opportunities for making friends, which adds to our empathy for poor ol’ Robot, but this actually reflects the film’s most realistic element: Life goes on.

Berger uses Robot’s titular dreams to explore more surreal sequences the further away rescue seems, including a gorgeous ode to The Wizard of Oz involving an army of tap-dancing daisies around our Tin Man. These unreal moments bleed into Dog’s experience too — a dream of a ten-pin bowling session with a Slurpee-drinking snowman doesn’t exactly spell reality, but the humiliation in this scene is very real for Dog.

Dog and Robot individually find moments of connection with others over the months, but more than anything, this animated film paints a portrait of loneliness more real than many live-action attempts. And it has a huge amount to do with sound.

With no dialogue, Robot Dreams proves words are overrated.

The entirety of Robot Dreams is dialogue-free, making the film instantly universal in theme and approach despite its specifically New York setting. Alfonso de Vilallonga’s jubilant, empathetic score, alongside superb foley effects, weaves the story’s emotional highs and lows, making Robot Dreams function like a silent movie. It’s the opposite kind of dialogue-free film as, say, A Quiet Place, where the need for silence is used to build terror, but it’s as much of an experiment.
After just five minutes of watching “Robot Dreams,” you’ll be so engrossed in the visuals that you won’t even realize the characters aren’t speaking. The expressive animation conveys everything from laughter to concern to anger, all without a single word being spoken.

### The Real Winner: Friendship
In the trailer for “Robot Dreams,” the true winner is the theme of friendship that shines through. It’s a heartwarming tale that will tug at your heartstrings.

### A Love Letter to New York City
With its vibrant and bustling animations, New York City becomes a character in itself in “Robot Dreams.” From the First Avenue subway to Central Park, the city’s sounds and sights provide the perfect backdrop for the story.

The film beautifully captures the essence of 1980s Manhattan, including the iconic Twin Towers in the skyline. It’s a poignant reminder of lost loved ones and the enduring power of connection.

“Robot Dreams” is a touching story of unlikely friendship, loss, and loneliness that will leave a lasting impact on viewers. So, turn up Earth Wind and Fire’s “September,” and make sure to catch this film on Hulu now.