To classify Cesar Cabral’s Bob Spit: We Do Not Like People is almost a Herculean task. It’s a journey of self-awareness. But it’s also a road movie. And a documentary. To top it off, it’s filmed in stop-motion animation. There’s…a lot going on here.
Cabral’s movie revolves around the Brazilian cartoonist Angeli. The film cuts between the adventures of the titular Bob Spit and interviews with Angeli himself. The film becomes even more confusing when Angeli proclaims, “I believe I am Bob Spit” during an interview. The lines between creation and creator become blurred, and it makes an (already confusing) film even more muddled. Bob Spit suffers, as those unfamiliar with Angeli and his work have no true access point here. Whereas some documentaries allow outsiders in, this one is opaque and may drive potential viewers away.
However, for those who stick with it, there’s a lot to like here. The stop-motion animation is a clever throwback and may entice viewers sick of CGI machinations and updated visual effects. The titular Bob Spit is impossible to ignore: a green, mohawk-sporting vigilante. Those in favor of more philosophical fare, especially meta-commentary and the nature of art itself, will dive right into this. Bob Spit may not like people, but that doesn’t mean people won’t like him right back.
Lightly recommended for film collections in public libraries looking for offbeat animated films and documentaries with a focus on art.
Discover more titles for your film collection in our list of animation movies.