PIG DREAMS

Following The Flock (2023), del Mazo offers another whimsical take on sleep.

The porcine narrator dares to question why young Johnny imagines sheep instead of pigs when he’s trying to fall asleep. The ovine retort is predictably smug: “That’s strictly sheep business. Pigs simply aren’t qualified.” Determined to upend that assumption, the narrator organizes a group of confident swine. They try various schemes to usurp the flock’s role: dressing in stolen sheep fleece, blocking the sheep’s ears so they can’t hear Johnny’s calls, and dripping slop over the sheep so they smell like pigs. All are unsuccessful. Finally, they hypnotize their rivals and take over the job—which does, in fact, prove overwhelming. The pigs can’t leap over the fence the way the sheep do, and their efforts leave them exhausted. So they give up and resume life as happy pigs. Guridi’s scribbly linework stretches out to produce pear-shaped pink pigs with stubbly bristles. All the animal faces are marvelously expressive, and the pigs’ decline will be obvious to viewers. Those hoping for a tale that encourages youngsters to follow their ambitions, however far-fetched, may find the story, translated from Spanish, a bit of a downer, but this tale charms nevertheless. Clever dialogue and quirky narratorial asides make for wryly humorous reassurance that it’s OK to stop chasing a dream—especially if pursuing one’s aspirations yields only angst. Portrayed only during nighttime scenes, Johnny has bluish-tinged skin.

An appealingly offbeat argument in favor of the status quo.