JAPAN, 2023.
Available on streaming platforms.
Directed by Wim Wenders and co-written with Takuma Takasaki, Perfect Days is a moving meditation that stirs the heart at a gentle pace. The film is in Japanese, but the dialogue is secondary to the storytelling, which unfolds through rituals, routines and the protagonist’s keen sense of observation.
A series of ordinary moments slowly gives form to the melancholy biography of a solitary but seemingly content individual. Hirayama (Kôji Yakusho) is a collected, taciturn man whose minimalistic life is perfectly structured. He works for a toilet cleaning company and is extremely diligent as he carries out his duties across Tokyo. In his free time he reads books and listens to records, he eats at the same izakaya daily and he nurtures a passion for photography. He barely talks to anyone, but the silence around him is charged.
By simplifying his existence he eliminates anything that might upset the status quo. In a sense, he seems to personify the zen approach to life, as he is totally absorbed in what he does. His appreciation of the simple things is heightened, so the flickering leaves of a tree are enough to fill him with joy and wonder. His interactions with people are so sparse that they gain huge significance and even the briefest, most casual exchange becomes meaningful. On the other hand, there is the feeling that the pursuit of a quiet life is an avoidance tactic on his part, a way to dodge future disappointments or past traumas. As a matter of fact, when an unexpected event eventually shakes up his daily routine, it hints at the presence of emotional turbulence hidden deep within…
Subtle and introspective, the film asks the audience to tune in to its mood and detect its unspoken messages rather than expect a linear, eventful storyline. Yakusho offers a touching performance that’s further enriched by a delightful cinematography. Perfect Days is not just an ode to finding beauty in the ordinary, but an invitation to reflect on what it means to live life fully.
The Immersive Verdict: A moving meditation that stirs the heart at a gentle pace. Subtle and introspective, the film asks the audience to tune in to its mood and detect its unspoken messages.
— Mersa Auda
