PAPRIKA
© 2006 by C. E. Murphy. All Rights Reserved.
An image from Paprika
Directed by Satoshi Kon, Japan

Photo Credit: Sony Pictures
Entertainment

       PAPRIKA is the latest anime from writer-director Satoshi Kon. Adapted
from the novel by Yasutaka Tsutsui, the film is a futuristic sci-fi thriller about
a laboratory that is developing an experimental treatment for psychiatric
patients. The "DC MINI" allows a doctor to enter into the dreams of another
person with the idea of better identifying the patient's problems. The film opens
with a set piece that jumps from a circus setting to an homage to Tarzan to
a film noir to a corridor where a detective is investigating a murder. The
patient is Detective Konakawa (Akio Ohtsuka) who is struggling with a particular
difficult case. Assisting him in his dreams is the title character, a spunky, red-
haired teenager who is the alter ego for the older, buttoned down doctor
Atsuko Chiba (Megumi Hayashibara). When she returns to the lab after her
meeting with the policeman, Dr. Chiba learns that one of the prototypes of
the device is missing. Soon, doctors and patients are saying and doing
crazy things because they are being influenced by the "dream terrorist."
It is up to Dr. Chiba, the "DC MINI"'s creator, the oversized Tokita (Toru
Furuya) and the elfin lab chief Torataro Shima (Katsunosuke Hori) to track
down the culprits and save the day.

       Kon utilizes the fluidity between the worlds to create a mesmerizing and
magical dreamscape of images from a parade led by appliances to a
stoic doll to a large-scale robot. Eventually there's a battle for the very
existence of Tokyo that is breathtaking to see.

       PAPRIKA adds quite a dash of spice to the anime genre and offered
a fun ride. If it's not quite on par with Kon's masterful MILLENNIUM ACTRESS,
it still is worthwhile.
       
                                            Rating:        B+