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Pako to mahô no ehon (2008)
Tim Burton of Japan made another touching movie
Like Director Nakajima's previous film "Kiraware Matsuko no isshô" (literally, "The Life of Matsuko, Who Was Hated By Everyone"), I couldn't help marveling at bright colors and strange, surreal images in "Pako to Mahô no Ehon" (Paco and the Magic(al Picture) Book). The story is about friendship between seven-year-old girl Pako, who loses her memory every day (sort of like Drew Barrymore's character in "50 First Dates") and obnoxious old millionaire Ônuki, both in a very strange hospital, where the only doctor likes to pretend that he is Peter Pan and Cinderella, the nurses were either a blood-sucking vampire-like woman or a punk with body piercing. The obnoxious rich old man, played by Yakusho Kôji (everyone except Paco has such heavy makeups that I honestly couldn't tell who played whom) gradually changed because of Pako, who loves reading a picture book called "Prince Toad vs Monster Crayfish." I cried throughout the movie, although most teenagers in the theater giggled through it. I guess it really depends on your age and life experience. It's a quirky wonderful film and highly recommended.