The Movies Invade Our Dreams [Paprika, Kon, 2006]

I won't profess to have understood the plot, or every scene, but much like how people deal with Donald Trump's debate answers, I sort of grasped a hint and mood. There feels to be two themes: 1) Dreams' connection to reality and the relationship between the two (which influences which?) and 2) Technology's impact on dreams (as metonymy/synecdoche for fantasies, imagination, etc). The latter is made more interesting by a movie motif that runs through the plot, a movie that at times merges with "dream world" and reality - a creative tribute to cinema.

It's that connection, the dream-film parallel, that I found quite provocative about Paprika. The external struggles - reclaiming the DC mini and finding the culprit - is paralleled by the internal conflict of characters coming to terms with their dreams, dreams that represent their suppressed desires, guilt, and fantasies.  The film ends with Detective once again becoming willing to watch films, capstone-ing a climax that saw characters defeat the domineering Chairman by coming to terms with their dreams' "not-dreamness." Dreams are a part of us, and as the DC-Mini's original intention, can be a tool of introspection and elevation. So does that mean film can be such a tool too? And if dreams can "invade" reality, can cinema too?

The "Introduction to Paprika" by Caleb Crain talked about films, novels and poems being forms a dream-sharing. It's not hard to see movies as embodiment of our greatest fantasies. From Marvel's franchise to Rom-Coms, movies "bring to life" fantasies and desires we have and allow us to live them for 90-180 minutes. But that relationship rests on the assumption that our desires influence our entertainment. What if our dream-sharing begin to influence our desires?

I think I wouldn't be alone to say that I've definitely had dreams based off movies I saw the night before. Dreams where I'm cast into a 007 firefight and the thrill is all there. And there definitely have also been times when I woke up from a good dream and went "damn, if only it goes like that." So, if movies can influence dreams, and dreams are really metaphors for our more comprehensive wants, does that finally give logical proof to the statement "movies changed my life"?

Sorry about that. But all in all, I think Kon is suggesting such a connection through Paprika. Having dedicated his life to cinema and the pushing of its boundaries, I think Paprika represents both a loving tribute and warning. With power and influence comes responsibility. When we look at issues like #OscarsSoWhite, before dismissing it as mere show-biz drama, think how many dreams we are shaping, and how many pursuits we've set in motion.

[Also, a couple of notes to self: Things don't always have to make rational sense if they are daringly/teasingly creative; graphic matches are beautiful things; sometimes a mood is as important as plot; and, finish your movies or you will be haunted by them.]