This Oscar-nominated, dialogue-free feature animation comes from the director of the riveting Blancanieves. For this tender animation, Berger turns to 1980s New York and the friendship between a lonely dog and a robot. The city is without humans but busy with animals such as monkeys, pigs, and penguins, whose anthropomorphic qualities allow them to lead active, adventurous lives. When Dog and Robot spend a day at the beach, a combination of sight gags and their visual responses make for a fun day out, till Robot gets waterlogged and Dog has to return home alone. Their friendship continues through dreams as they wait out the winter, aiming to reunite again. Adapted from Sara Varon’s graphic novel, and a tribute to New York, an edgy place of burger bars and roller skating in the Reagan era. Avoiding any bigger AI questions, the film explores themes of loneliness and relationships, and the part played by memory in keeping them alive.

Select family-priced screenings (Individual ticket – €6.80; Family ticket (1 adult, 3 children / 2 adults, 2 children) – €20.80) will take place for this title on Sunday 24th (11.00), Tuesday 26th (11.00), and Thursday 28th (13.00).

There will be Open Captioned screenings on Sunday 24th at 16.20 and Thursday 28th at 18.15.

Notes by Alicia McGivern