Robot Dreams (3½ Stars)

This is the 12th film in the Stuttgart Fantasy Film Festival.

Today is another day that started with an animated film. Once more I felt tempted to stay at home and wait for the next film. This time I'm glad that I didn't stay at home. "Robot Dreams" is a much better film than "Mars Express".

The film takes place in New York in the 1980's. The director, Pablo Berger, calls the film a love letter to New York. He says that he lived in New York for ten years, and the film portrays New York as he remembers it.

Almost. In "Robot Dreams" the city is inhabited by animals. There isn't a human in sight. Dog, as the main character is called, lives alone in an apartment near First Avenue subway station. He's lonely, so he buys a robot to keep him company. The robot becomes Dog's best friend. They're inseparable.

The problems start when Dog and Robot visit Ocean Beach. Robot breaks down and can't walk, maybe because he's spent too much time swimming. Dog goes home to get a repair kit, but when he comes back the beach is closed. It's the end of the season, and the beach won't be open again until 1st June the following year.

Robot is sad that he's been left alone. He dreams about being reunited with Dog. That's the reason for the film's name. Dog misses Robot at first, but he gets a girlfriend and forgets about Robot.

I like the film because of its vibrant colours and the amusing settings. If the  film had continued as it started in the first half I would have given it a five star rating. The second half is strange. Robot repeatedly stands up and goes home to Dog, but every time he wakes up and finds it was only a dream. It's not pleasant to the viewer to see Dog forgetting his best friend.