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Went to see this at the Cambridge Film Festival.Its a great film and is a good one to watch more than once because there is so much going on that details are missed the first time.Looked great on the big screen and of course was the subtitled version.I have been wanting to see this for a long time but the dvd keeps getting delayed.

This is a short description of what happens in the film because there is so much going on that it would take a long time to write otherwise.

The story is that there is a new invention called the DC Mini and its stolen.It is used to treat people who suffer from things like depression in their dreams but it can be used to alter someones subconcious and make them believe they are seeing things which are not really there.This is used on the Chief of the company who made it and he jumps out of a window and its injured .When he doesnt wake up a woman called Atsuko Chiba who has another self in the dreams called Paprika goes into his dream to try and help.

She saves him and he gets a detective called Konakawa to help them find out who caused this.They find out that it was the other scientist who stole the invention but that he was working for someone else.Parika is helping Konakawa with his dream when it is suddenly invaded by a parade of odd creatures and they have to escape from them.She finds the source of the problem with the dreams and is captured.Then Osani rips her Paprika selfs skin off to reveal Atsuko. (Paprika is sorrounded by butterflies and also has the wings of a butterfly so its symbolic with a chrysalis)

This reveals Atsuko and the Chairman comes and trys to kill her but she is saved by Konakawa and then Atsuko is woken up by the Chief
Just after that the dream world and the real world start to merge and then Paprika appears at the same time that Atsuko is still there.They find out that it was the Chairman who planned it all with the help of one of their scientists.Paprika stops him by sucking up his dream world and him

The animation through the whole film was very well done with lots of attention to detail.The opening sequence showed how Paprika can go from one place to another and do anything and was a great way to introduce the watcher to her world.The most shocking scene to me was the one where he rips of the skin of Paprika to reveal Atsuko.There was barely any nudity at all except within the last few minutes and there were also no sex references but its still a film for older teenagers and adults.I also like that all the characters are adults and that its quiet a complicated story and not boring at all.I also enjoyed all the movie references and found it a nice change that the woman is in love with some one who is not thought of as a stereotipical good looking guy because she finds him fun to be with.

I have watched all of Satoshi Kon's other films except Tokyo Godfathers and have enjoyed repeat viewings of all of them ^.^ so i cant wait for the dvd of this movie to finally come out.

I finally got the dvd today.I brought the german version because it has 22 different subtitle tracks and the uk version is not out till the end of september and i cant find out when the american version is out.

Atsuko

Paprika