Perfect Days (2023) - The Beauty Lies in the Simplicity of Things - 8/10 (12/03/24)

Perfect Days is a slice-of-life combining comedy and drama elements directed by renowned German filmmaking veteran Wim Wenders and starring a selection of extraordinary Japanese actresses and actors. Shot in only seventeen days in Tokyo, this movie shows us two weeks in the life of a middle-aged public toilet cleaner. This movie has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best International Feature Film and overall deserves its critical acclaim.

This movie convinces on numerous levels. First of all, the locations in Tokyo are particularly fascinating as we get to explore a selection of modern, clean and artistic public toilets that should set new quality standards all around the world.

Up next, the movie convinces with its realism and almost feels like a documentary which makes it easy to empathize with its characters.

Speaking of its characters, they are quite eclectic, memorable and unique. Lead character Hirayama is a humble, quiet and simple man who enjoys the little details in his everyday life such as music from the sixties and seventies that he is listening to on his old cassettes, the colours, growth and shapes of trees in urban parks or the occasional drink at his favourite bar whose middle-aged owner is an extraordinary singer. His colleague Takashi is the exact opposite of the protagonist. He is rather young, often nervous and disorganized and doesn't value his job as he often comes late, leaves early and ultimately quits altogether from one day to the next. His crush Aya is a beautiful young woman with extraordinary style but behind the façade is a fragile lady who has trouble establishing lasting relationships. Hirayama's new colleague Sato on the other side is disciplined, organized and socially awkward. His niece Niko has a troublesome relationship with her strict mother, runs away from home and craves for life lessons from her calm and composed uncle. Speaking of her mother Keiko, we notice that she has a successful career and wealthy lifestyle but is lacking empathy and has trouble getting along with others. Every single side character is fleshed out very decently in this movie from the wise-cracking bookstore owner over the lonesome divorced mama and her nostalgic ex-husband who is dying of cancer to the young man with Down syndrome who has an obsession with Takashi's ears.

The movie doesn't follow a precise story line and might be interpreted in many different ways. In my opinion, this movie is about enjoying the little things in life and being content with your decisions regardless of the judgement of others. Hirayama faces a lot of comments, expectations and opinions. His colleague doesn't understand at all why he is taking his job so seriously. His sister looks down upon him because he is a public toilet cleaner. The ex-husband of the mama wants him to take care of the lady after his own demise. Hirayama shows much affection, empathy and sympathy towards all these characters which shows his emotional, fragile and soft side but he is overall content with his the beauty, simplicity and routine of his own life. These conflicting emotions are shown in the memorable closing scene that is worth being discussed among cineasts.

The more one tends to analyze, revisit and think of this movie, the better Perfect Days becomes. It's a wonderful film to revisit if you are craving for a composed, emotional and thoughtful movie without any action sequences, special effects and thrills. This film is greater than its parts and its down-stripped approach certainly makes it stand out.

A few elements one could criticize are the film's considerable length, its slow pace and the lack of a gripping story. Still, these are no accidental mistakes but deliberate decisions taken by an experienced filmmaker. It's simply a matter of perspective whether you interpret such elements as flaws or strengths or decide to keep a neutral attitude about them.

In my personal case, I have come to appreciate the peaceful, inspiring and beautiful nature of Perfect Days and would strongly recommend it to my friends and also purchase this movie to revisit it anytime I need to take a creative break from my everyday life.