There’s beauty in simplicity, as the famous quote says, and German-born writer/director Wim Wenders applies that adage to this Japanese-language drama. Its protagonist Hirayama (Kôji Yakusho) works as a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo and the film chronicles his day-to-day life.
There’s something so captivating about Hirayama’s mundane and highly regimented life that begins at dawn. He grabs his coffee from a vending machine and then drives his minivan to the Shibuya district while listening to classic rock on cassettes. He enjoys people-watching during his lunch break while admiring the trees in the park and sometimes captures a certain moment with his old camera. When he gets home to his sparsely decorated apartment, he reads a book before going to sleep.
Hirayama takes great pride in his bathroom cleaning, as the camera shows the great deal of care he puts into making the toilets spotless. It’s a contrast to his younger colleague Takashi’s (Tokio Emoto) slapdash (read: lazy) working style. The generational difference is palpable as Hirayama is firmly focused on his task at hand while the goofy Takashi is a typical Gen-Z who’s always on the phone and constantly distracted, especially by his girlfriend. Takashi’s desperation for money to spend on romantic dates provides some of the funniest scenes as he tries to persuade Hirayama to sell his beloved rock-n-roll cassettes for a lofty amount of cash.
Apparently, Wenders was inspired to write this film by his visit to see the Tokyo Toilet Project featuring public bathrooms designed by international architects. While the Shibuya’s toilets are truly a work of art, shot beautifully by DP Franz Lustig, it’s the humanity of the person cleaning them that makes the film. Yakusho has a dignified, quiet grace about him that’s perfect for this enigmatic role. He’s able to communicate with just subtle gestures or facial expressions.
Wenders co-wrote the script with Takuma Takasaki has a decidedly zen-like calmness and harmony, as Hirayama remains unperturbed by an unexpected visit from his runaway niece that sheds light on his past. The brief moment between Hirayama and his sister speaks volumes about class distinction and the image-driven society that prevails not just in Japan but in most parts of the world. The film never spells things out but it’s clear from the conversation between Hirayama and his eloquently-dressed sister that he used to live a very different life, perhaps even held a position of power at one point that he chose to leave behind for a more tranquil life. Hirayama’s outlook on life reveals profound wisdom against chasing what the world considers ‘riches’ such as wealth, power, and prestige… often at the expense of our own happiness, but the message is delivered without a hint of preachiness.
The lack of plot and barely any action for over two hours long can be frustrating to some, and I have to admit it took me a while to get into. I think one has to be in the right mood to appreciate this, but once you get into the groove, there is plenty to savor that leaves a delightful aftertaste. I appreciate that Wenders allows us to fill in the details of the story and ruminate on it. Given the protagonist’s love for rock-n-roll, the soundtrack is appropriately rockin’ – from Lou Reed’s Perfect Day (hence the film’s title), Patti Smith’s Redondo Beach, The Kinks’ Sunny Afternoon, and Nina Simone’s Feeling Good.
There are a plethora of action-driven movies out there, perhaps too many, but it’s a rarity to see such a soulful film that makes you meditate on your own life and find joy in the smallest, simplest moments. Hirayama’s gentle and compassionate personality is perhaps an idealized version of a human being, but it’s lovely to see a film that celebrates kindness as we definitely need more of it in our world today. This film is deservedly nominated for Best International Feature at this year’s Oscars. I highly recommend this if you’re looking for something beautiful that’s off the beaten path.
Have you seen PERFECT DAYS? Let me know what you think!
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FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG 
Great review! I’m definitely looking forward to watching this one. I’ve always appreciated movies which capture the simple beauty of life. In this regard, I really loved “Past Lives” from last year. If “Perfect Days” is anything like that film, I know I will love it. Here’s why:
Hi Huilahi! This one is quite a bit different from Past Lives but I guess it does have a similar minimalist vibe that’s also grounded. I didn’t love this one as much as Past Lives but still it’s an astounding film you should check out!
I do want to see this not just for its premise but for the fact that the film could be a late-career hit for Wim Wenders.
I’m not familiar with Wim Wenders but now I’m curious to check out more of his work. What would you recommend?
Wow… He is considered one of the greatest filmmakers from post-war Germany. His 2 most well-known films from the 1980s are Paris, Texas and Wings of Desire as the latter was famously remade into one of the worst films ever made in City of Angels which also had one of the worst endings ever. I would also recommend the 5 1/2 hour cut of Until the End of the World, The American Friend which has Dennis Hopper in an unconventional take on the Tom Ripley character, and a trilogy of road movies he did in the 1970s in Alice in the Cities, Wrong Move, and King of the Road.
Oh right, Wings of Desire, I guess I just forgot his name but he’s indeed an influential filmmaker.
This sounds like a movie for me – minimalist, meditative😌 I was reading Spotlight on Film’s review of this earlier this evening: https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/144444942/posts/5148593639 And he also said it is slow to the point of being frustrating, basically. That seems to be something to keep in mind going in.
Oh my, sorry I missed your comment here, my bad! Thanks for introducing me to Spotlight on Film, that’s a great review.
Yeah the slowness + lack of plot can be quite frustrating but ultimately I think your patience will be rewarded.
A wonderful movie – Hirayama-san leading a simple, ‘in the moment’ daily life: waking up, tending to his collected Maple tree seedlings, coffee and cassettes on his drive to work, cleaning public toilets with utmost care, photographing trees in the park, bathing at the sento, dining at the izakaya, reading, sleeping, repeat.
But does leading the simple life mean rejection from family and society, and ultimately, loneliness? A stunning meditation on traditional vs modern times, just simply enthralling from start to finish 😌
Hello! Welcome to FlixChatter! Thank you for you fantastic, insightful comment. I love your analysis about how leading a simple life might have cost Hirayama rejection from his family and society, but it seems he realizes that and chooses this life anyway and despite his lonesome existence, somehow he doesn’t strike me as lonely.
Hi Ruth, I was engrossed in the rhythm of Perfect Days and immensely moved at the end. The film wasn’t slow moving for me at all. I really like what you said about the film celebrating kindness as we definitely need more of it in our world today. We also need a deeper understanding of what matters most to live a meaningful life – and that the definition may be different for each person. It’s been awhile since a film made me feel or think this much about my choices in life. http://www.lifeinthedark.film/post/perfect-days
Hello! Sorry I missed your comment somehow. Yeah, there’s a captivating rhythm in the way this film plays out. I love Hirayama’s quiet grace and how he sees the world. We definitely need more kindness in our world today!