This movie might fit your fancy. It's about lonely dog living in 80s New York buying a robot companion. This movie goes really deep in to their relationship and it's beautiful. Warning: Bring a box of tissues because this film will tug on your heartstrings like no other.
Feb 25, 2025
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It can be interesting to pick up common themes among the movies nominated for Academy Awards each year. Sometimes it’s something as simple as an actor or actress appearing in multiple nominees, as is the case with Sandra Hüller giving memorable turns in Anatomy of a Fall and The Zone of Interest. Or perhaps a preponderance of donkeys, like last year when EO and The Banshees of Inisherin both featured the animals (and delivered them to similar fates). Or the stories can share common themes, which surprisinlgy turned out to be the case between this year’s nominees Past Lives and Robot Dreams, a small-budgeted animated film that proved remarkably adept at exploring the ways we can move on after the end of a relationship without forgetting what made it special.
The film opens on Dog, who lives a lonely life in New York City during the 1980s. One night, he sees an advertisement for a robotic companion and immediately places an order. It arrives, with much assembly required, and so Dog gets to work, ultimately leading to the creation of Robot. As promised, the two hit it off immediately, with Robot’s wide-eyed enthusiasm at his new surroundings causing Dog to stop and appreciate more of the world around him. This first Summer that the pair spend together is one of the most joyful sequences ever put to film, and it’s near impossible not to have one’s spirits lifted while watching it.
As the saying goes however, all good things must come to an end, and so as the season nears its end the pair head to the beach where exposure to water causes Robot to become rusted in place. Dog isn’t strong enough to move him and the crowds have all left, so he is left with no choice but to come back the next day with tools in hopes of getting Robot working again. Unfortunately, when he returns he finds that the beach has closed and barricaded for the season, with some very zealous guards on hand to keep him away, and so the formerly inseparable duo must now wait to be reunited.
Over the Fall, Winter, and Spring, we watch what happens to the pair through a series of vignettes that highlight the loneliness they both feel without the other. Robot dreams (see what I did there) of being reunited as he remains helpless on the sand and Dog attempts to make connections with his unique fellow citizens, like Snowman, whose face takes on the color of the frozen drinks he consumes and who uses his own head as bowling ball. It all leads up to a bittersweet ending that feels true in a way that will resonate deeply with anyone who has loved and lost and still went on loving from afar, at least a little.
The animation style is utterly charming and features lots of cute flourishes and nods to classic cinema. The soundtrack delights as well, with a mix of jazz and hits (going forward I will forever think of this movie when I hear Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September”). This is especially important as there is not a single line of spoken dialogue to be found, instead using imagery and sound to tell the story to wonderful effect. The central relationship between Dog and Robot is one of the most endearing friendships in movie history, and this story will hit viewers directly in the feels in all the right ways. ★★★★★
Mar 6, 2024
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like some level of tension with your mom or realizing you want to be one but issa real uphill path there
but also if you miss how pixar movies hit you in the chest before both of you got older
or if you just love stunning animation or “wait that was who?!” voice casting
Oct 22, 2024
😃
Gorgeous movie that immediately draws you in with its animation style and also has a great story, I’ve watched it at least 5 times. Honorable mention is Donnie Darko
Jun 28, 2024
Top Recs from @bl00dvv1tch97
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Like the protagonists of those two pieces of media are so me in like alternated realities. I can't even.
Feb 26, 2025
I loved how easy and nice it was to make one. I loved how I can talk about stuff that I'm hyperfixated on in this handmade mini magazines. I hope this is not just some fleeting interest because I really want to improve on drawing and writing and I would love to make more of this.
Feb 25, 2025
This movie is so damn disturbing showing anything horrific onscreen. Just hearing the audio from the snuff films that the characters watches sends chills up my spine. Juliette Gariepy is amazing as Kelly-Anne. You can definitely feel that something is very wrong with her even when her motives are noble. If you love serial killer/true crime movies especially movies by David Fincher, you should watch Red Rooms.
Feb 11, 2025