Paprika: She Will Travel Through Your Dreams

I mentioned in March a new movie about to appear in America. It's called Paprika and it seriously a film lost in the imagination of a child stuck in the walls of an adult's mind.

The story is based around a young woman named Chiba Atsuko and her alter-ego Paprika. She is a dream analyst who explores the dreams of her patients to cure different mental symptoms. However, the device called DC Mini (which helps people connect through dreams) is stolen and used to merge reality and dream together. Chiba and Paprika must work together in order to fight against the terrorist and save the world from their own dreams.

I went and saw this movie with a friend. I absolutely loved it and the only reason why is because it's something I never encounter in American cinema (animated or not). Dreams are the only place within a human mind to be completely free of the world's ability to bicker and bitch about everything. It is the sacred spot no one can ever encounter, but when that place is threatened by a crippled old man with only the goal of power in mind, you get a little scared. That's the entire premise of the film and that's something no American will probably never cover.

Most reviewers who see the movie say it's a step up from the trash that Americans make lately. I have to agree with these reviewers. Paprika explores not only the concept of dreams while you're dreaming, but the dreams you aspire. It's not suitable for kids because kids are still dreamers. It's adults who struggle to get through the 9-5 and stay stuck in their high school/college glory. That and the combination of colors and animation makes Satoshi Kon's film a must-see.

Sadly, you can't see this film everywhere. For those New Yorkers, it's playing at the Angelika and the AMC 25 in Times Square. For those New York Tourists: check it out the next time you're in town.


And to add a little music to it: Susumu Hirasawa's soundtrack is the same song repeated and remixed throughout the film. Luckily, it transforms the film from reality to a complete dream.