Heartwarming / Paprika

• Atsuko Chiba and Kousaku Tokita bonding in the lengthened elevator scene.
• Due to his own past and psychological hang-ups regarding his old film-making buddy, Konakawa's mood visibly changes when movies are the topic of conversation; the most extreme example is his outburst toward Paprika, exclaiming "I don't want to see any movie, EVER!". Then, after finding closure, his final act in the movie (as well as the film's final scene) is him purchasing a movie ticket.
  "One ticket, please."
• Chiba letting her guard down a bit and sharing a genuine laugh with Shima near the end of the film.
• When Tokita is explaining the DC Mini to Konakawa, Konakawa is obviously staring at Chiba and lost in thought. Chiba curtly sticks up for Tokita in that moment by telling Konakawa that "it's considered polite to look at someone when they're talking to you."
• "What about the rest of it?" when we get into Once More, with Clarity; it's Konakawa's subconscious remembering his friend, who wanted to finish the film they worked on as younger men. His friend's echo repeats it more softly when Konakawa rescues Dr. Chiba from Osanai and Konakawa shoots the latter to "finish it".
  • Konakawa's "Eureka!" Moment at the end of the movie: as Dr. Chiba tells him, he didn't sacrifice his childhood dreams or his dead friend's memory by becoming a cop. Instead, he became the hero they envisioned in their film, and has made their fantasy into a reality. Just by living his life, he has honored his dead friend.

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