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A connoisseur of the psychological thriller genre, Satoshi Kon, only brought the best in the game. His 2006 film, Paprika, is a unique blend of science fiction and the surrealistic genre into a thriller. It was also the director’s fourth and final film before his passing in 2010. His films continue his legacy as one of the best filmmakers of the 21st century.
Paprika by Satoshi Kon. [Credit: Madhouse]The film was adapted from Yasutaka Tsutsui’s novel published in 1993. Kon knew he wanted to make Paprika after Perfect Blue, another psychological thriller film, but something held him back. Despite the idea’s inception in 1998, the director waited to meet Tsutsui personally and actually get his blessing to make the film. It’s like an honorable way to pass the baton to someone.
Paprika Was Still a Personal Commitment to Him
Paprika by Satoshi Kon. [Credit: Madhouse]For Satoshi Kon, Paprika was more than just another film he had to make. He once referred to it as his “personal commitment,” acknowledging how deeply connected he felt to the story’s themes and visual possibilities. This would’ve tapped into a whole new side of his creativity that he couldn’t wait to explore, but he had one obstacle before that. Despite this obstacle, we can agree that Paprika was released at the right time with its next-level visuals blended with some CGI.
Paprika explores the boundaries between the dream world and the conscious mind, following a dream therapist, Dr. Atsuko Chiba, who can enter and manipulate people’s dreams through advanced technology as her alter-ego, Paprika. The vibrant visuals and unique narrative reflect Kon’s signature directorial style we can witness in the likes of Millenium Actress and Perfect Blue.
A Chance Meeting – Satoshi Kon Respected the Source Material
Paprika by Satoshi Kon. [Credit: Madhouse]Considering the director had the idea to adapt the film in 1998, what exactly stopped him? Kon was asked about a chance meeting he had with the author, Tsutsui, and gaining his blessing. He then clarified the fate of Paprika if the author never gave his blessing:
I don’t think I would have. As a film based on someone else’s story, without that meeting and blessing from the master, I probably wouldn’t have made the film.
He also felt an element of fate upon meeting the author which kickstarted the journey to making Paprika. He speaks about how new the science fantasy genre would be to him but that he was ready to explore a new side of his creativity:
When fate happened to bring us together, I started to think about what the meaning was for me to make Paprika at that moment. All of the films I had made up until that point – Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, and Tokyo Godfathers – were made through a very realistic method of representation, and the themes and subject matter were also quite realistic. I thought Paprika was a chance to tap a new part of creativity within me by using realistic methods of representation to deal with something more fantastic.
Thus, it really shows the level of commitment Kon had to the source material. He had a true respect towards other artists. He didn’t have to necessarily wait for Tsutsui’s blessing but he did so because of his integrity as a director and a storyteller.
Paprika is available on Crunchyroll for streaming.
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