Paprika (2006)
The original dream heist.
Presentation:
Anyone else’s dreams feel like absolute unhinged chaos? If The Cell, Perfect Blue and Inception had a baby, this would be it. Nolan’s film even references this one with similar compositions. This psychedelic journey is just as impossible to follow as a real dream. You’ll feel lost and disoriented in this hall of mirrors of descending madness. Even when you don’t understand what’s going on, you can still enjoy the kaleidoscopic lucid dreaming. My favorite of the the odd, uncanny imagery is the hotel corridor scene. Technically it’s a sci-fi tale of trying to stop a criminal whom has stolen dangerous dream traversing technology, but I doubt anyone will remember this film for its plot. It’s the cinematic journey down the rabbit that is the main appeal of this experience.
Conclusion:
This could be a masterpiece if it were a bit more cohesive. Imagine it as the Japanese version of Alice in Wonderland, on steroids. It clearly influences Inception, except with even more absurd realities afforded by the unlimited imagination of animation. A wild hallucinogenic experience that is just short of greatness because it’s too schizophrenic to follow, but that’s what dreams are and this film recaptures that trip into the deep subconscious. Whether the experience is a dream or nightmare, will depend on your tolerance to spice!
Recommendations
Level 0 of the liminal basement.