Robot Dreams 2023

In the sweltering summer of 1980s Manhattan, a solitary individual known as Dog dwells in isolation. His world is turned upside down when he becomes enamored with a television advertisement for a robotic companion, prompting him to order one immediately. The arrival of Robot, as he comes to be called, marks the beginning of an unbreakable bond between the two. As the sultry days unfold, Dog and Robot become inseparable friends, exploring the urban jungle together.

As the summer draws to a close, their adventures take them to the beach, where they spend a carefree day playing in the waves. Weary from their escapades, the duo falls asleep, only to wake up to an eerie silence – the beach is deserted, and Robot has been left immobile due to rust caused by the water. Crushed by his inability to rescue his mechanical friend, Dog trudges back home, only to return the next day to find that the authorities have sealed off the beach until June 1st of the following year, a barbed wire fence now blocking access.

Undeterred, Dog attempts to breach the barrier illegally, but is apprehended by the police and taken into custody. His spirits crushed, he reluctantly accepts his fate, pinning a reminder note on his refrigerator as a constant symbol of his longing to rescue Robot.

Months pass, and Dog’s life becomes a desolate existence. However, in a peculiar twist of events, a trio of rabbits stumbles upon Robot, who has been left abandoned once again. The rabbits bestow upon him STP oil, which miraculously repairs the damage caused by the water, allowing Robot to escape his beachside prison.

As Robot returns to Dog’s apartment, it becomes clear that this was merely a fantasy, a product of Robot’s own imagination. In reality, the rabbits had used Robot as a means to repair their broken boat, chopping off one of its legs and removing one of its toes in the process. They discard the leg and leave Robot once more on the beach, while Dog spends Halloween alone, his heart heavy with the knowledge that his mechanical companion never truly existed.

In this poignant tale, the themes of friendship, longing, and the blurred lines between reality and fantasy are woven together in a complex tapestry, leaving the viewer to ponder the true nature of their emotional investment.

As winter’s chill settles over the city, a surreal landscape of snow-covered beaches and frozen dunes gives way to Robot’s subconscious, where a desperate longing for home has him trapped in a dream world inspired by the whimsical realm of The Wizard of Oz. In this fantastical realm, Robot finds himself frozen in ice, a prisoner of his own desires. Meanwhile, Dog, oblivious to Robot’s plight, ventures into the Catskills, seeking new companionship and adventure. However, his quest for fun and friendship is foiled by a series of mishaps, including a brutal sledding accident with a pair of feisty anteaters that leaves him nursing a broken arm.

As June’s warm rays finally bring an end to winter’s icy grip, Dog returns to the beach, only to find himself confronting the harsh reality of Robot’s absence. The discovery of a discarded limb serves as a poignant reminder of their fractured bond, and Dog spends the night lost in thought, surrounded by the melancholy silence of his darkened room.

Meanwhile, Rascal, a cunning raccoon with a penchant for tinkering, stumbles upon Robot’s head and limbs in a junkyard and sees an opportunity to bring the robot back to life. With the help of a boombox, he rebuilds Robot, imbuing him with new life and purpose. As summer sunshine warms the city, Dog and Rascal form unexpected bonds, while Tin, Dog’s new robotic companion, becomes an integral part of his life.

As the seasons unfold, Robot and Rascal find themselves lost in their own fantasies, their minds wandering to a bygone era when they were once inseparable. One day, while enjoying a rooftop lunch with Rascal, Robot catches sight of Dog and Tin strolling down the sidewalk, oblivious to his presence. Seizing the moment, Robot bursts forth from the shadows, determined to reunite with his long-lost friend. However, as he approaches Dog, Rascal’s sudden appearance reveals that this reunion is nothing more than a fleeting fantasy, conjured by Robot’s imagination.

Undeterred, Robot decides to keep his existence hidden, allowing Dog to continue his life with Tin. As the two dance down the street side by side, Tin notices Dog’s lingering sadness and sets out to lift his spirits. Meanwhile, Robot returns to Rascal, where they share a moment of tender intimacy, dancing together on the rooftop under the warm glow of the summer sun.