Spanish director's nostalgic portrayal of NYC in the 1980s
Poignant and surreal story about a dog and robot examines friendship and isolation, as well as the city's vibrant Chinatown, Xu Fan reports.
Almost like a fairy tale, the film unfolds a dialogue-free story of an unlikely bond between a dog and a robot set in New York City in 1984. After sharing moments of sweet companionship, the duo retreats to a beach for relaxation, only for the robot to become stranded in the sand, its joints seized by rust from exposure to water.
As the dog tries several times but fails to free the immobilized robot before the beach closes for the season, the two friends face divergent paths. The dog navigates a solitary existence, making and losing new friends, while the robot remains lying on the shore, dreaming of being rescued. Their journey culminates in a poignant and tragic ending.
Berger recalls stumbling upon Varon's graphic novel for the first time in 2010 and immediately falling in love with its artwork and story.
"It was surprising, funny, surreal and emotional. But back then, I didn't think about making an animated film out of it," he recalls.
Eight years later, Berger decided to adapt the story into a feature-length film, which also marks his first animation work.
"Between 2010 and 2018, my best friend stopped being my best friend. I also lost my mother. I thought about how my heart was broken in New York. So, a combination of all these experiences and all these feelings are in the film," recalls Berger.
