Though Paprika, the latest work from director Satoshi Kon (Tokyo Godfathers), creates strong parallels to thematic elements of stories like The Matrix trilogy, the magnificently surreal work of anime captures a space in film all its own.
Kon’s ninety-minute presentation, an adaptation of a sci-fi novel by Yasutaka Tsutsui, centers on a unique team of psychiatrists that have developed a device, the DC Mini, capable of allowing users to share dreams and record the results. The protagonists are thrust into the role of heroes, however, when a “dream terrorist” swipes the equipment and begins projecting thoughts and images into the minds of others intended to break their psyches.
Screenplay author Seishi Minakami then excellently intertwines the story of a detective haunted by the death of a former friend. The flatfoot seeks the services of Paprika, a mysterious dream specialist that ends up battling to save reality.
Naturally, the cast of characters and plotline are only half the fun. Kon and his animation crew marvelously conjure dreamscapes that are both fantastic and disturbing. The film’s villain is associated with the oft-creepy aesthetic of small dolls; a slithering parade of figurines, frogs, furniture, and stuffed animals also is among his calling cards intended to drive his victims into psychosis.
Paprika’s ultimate comment is on the uncanny power of the brain, the feelings we keep locked away for extended periods of time, and what lies in the deep recesses of our imaginations. To see a film that excels at depicting both fantasy and reality, make sure to catch Kon’s exceptional creation while it’s showing in the United States.
– Scott Morrow
Paprika
Director: Satoshi Kon
90 minutes, Sony Pictures Classics
http://www.sonyclassics.com/paprika
Opened 5/25/07 in New York
In Japanese with English subtitles