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"Also, I used to go into Chinatown to eat. I ate dim sum for the first time. I ate jellyfish for the first time. I love real Chinese food," he says.

Describing the film as perhaps the most personal of his works, Berger expresses his hope that the story, characterized as a fable and tragic comedy, will resonate with Chinese audiences, inspiring them to reflect on the characters they identify with or aspire to become. To produce Robot Dreams, the director set up two animation studios in Madrid and Pamplona, recruiting around 120 individuals with about 70 being animators, and working for three years to bring the film to life.

Having a filmmaking career that extends over four decades, Berger harbors a deep-seated passion for cinema that traces back to his childhood, spent in a home enveloped by the allure of theaters.

"For me, going to the movies was my window to the world where I learned about life and relationships. Movies were my oracle and was the most fun thing to do," says the emotional director.

Contact the writer at xufan@chinadaily.com.cn