Program Note
Set in 1987, before the internet became widespread, a quiet man living in seclusion with his loyal dog, Sandy. He spends his days peacefully creating Unicode art on his computer. His life unfolds amid a carefully curated world of nostalgic relics—old Apple computers, CRT televisions, and VHS tapes—each detail meticulously placed within the frame to evoke a bygone era. One day, Conor stumbles upon an advertisement in a magazine for a cutting-edge game called 'OBEX' and decides to purchase it. To his surprise, both he and Sandy appear as characters in the game. As he becomes more immersed, the line between the game and reality begins to blur. But when Sandy suddenly disappears, Conor ventures into the game world himself in search of his beloved companion. His journey through the game is at once fantastical and melancholic—a grown-up fairy tale woven with nostalgia. This dreamlike retro sci-fi adventure, rendered in black-and-white, blends emotional depth with visual artistry. The uniquely imagined world of OBEX offers a wistful and deeply touching experience that tugs at the heartstrings of anyone who remembers the wonder of that era. (Kani KIM)