"I have many faces, that makes me human"

What would happen if the worlds of reality and dreams collided? The idea is explored in this amazing anime film based on a novel by Yasutaka Tsutsui and directed by Satoshi Kon called Paprika. A machine called a DC mini is invented to watch one’s dreams in order to help psychological healing processes. When one goes missing, the doctors involved realize that the two worlds are suddenly getting too close to each other and only one person can help stop it: a woman named Paprika.

One would think that in order to watch a pink elephant push an alligator in a wheelchair you’d have to be high. In my opinion, having any drug related substance in your body while watching this movie would take away from it. This movie is so witty, creative, and insightful that any drug might actually lead you to believe it’s any normal film.

Imagine an ongoing dream of a parade lead by a marching refrigerator with a bumpin’ stereo inside. Following it are trumpet-playing frogs, the statue of liberty, samurai warriors, half-limbed and skinned corpses, and just about anything else you can imagine. This is the most colorful, visually satisfying and stimulating movie I’ve seen in years.

Apart from being visually attractive, the film also explores ideas that we all have experienced but find difficult to explain. How dangerous can the world of dreams really be? For me, it put into light how extreme my dreaming patterns are. A dream of mine can either be very positive and happy, or very dark and disturbing.

“In a world of inhumane reality, it is the only humane sanctuary left. That is a dream.”

What would happen if a machine that read dreams actually existed, and had the capacity to break the psyche of everyone in the world? If people unwillingly joined this parade of marching toys and corpses to escape from our dark world into a world where there are no rules?

Thank you Madhouse Studios, Yasutaka Tsutsui, and Satoshi Kon

Some quotes that stood out to me:

“Science is nothing but a piece of trash before a profound dream”

“God and Buddha will change religion”

“If he was not home when I passed by around 7:30, then he probably disappeared into the instant noodle soup”

New York Fuckin City

March 27th or 28th of this year, I can’t seem to pinpoint whether it was a Tuesday or Wednesday. I was downtown on my way to meet my boys who I hadn’t seen in months when I got a phone call from my cousin. It was news that my aunt had died. Most people would go home, make phone calls, and be alone. But for once I was emotionless; I couldn’t feel anything and I had no idea what to do besides continue on with my day and live for her.

So I met with Steve and Ricky who told me this photographer from France wanted to take photos of them. I was watching Emmanuelle take the photos and quickly realized how gifted she is. If you know me, you already know that I have this idea that there’s a group of chosen people in this world who have a way of portraying truths; truths through music, literature, fashion, art, poetry, etc. And Emmanuelle’s gift of truth is through photography.

A little while later, I saw one photograph she had taken of me. I haven’t said this to anyone until now, but I am pretty sure it is going to be my favorite portrait of myself. But don’t take that in the wrong sense. The reason I appreciate it so much is because she caught exactly what I was going through at the time and what I was about to be going through. Later on that day, I got a phone call that my friend had been in an apartment fire and was on life support in the hospital. Less than a week later she passed away. At that time in my life I had never been so lost but so found at the same time, and that’s exactly what I see in my photo.

If you look through her photography, you can see the real in everyone she photographs. Her work is a visual reminder of why I still have faith in the human race and also why I still live in New York. Stay tuned for an interview and check out her websites:

New York Photo Blog
EmmanuelleTricoire Photography