Perfect Days (2023): Movie Review

Introduction: Finding Beauty in Routine

In a world obsessed with constant progression, achievement, and digital connectivity, Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days offers a mesmerizing counterpoint—a meditation on finding profound meaning in life’s simplest routines. This contemplative Japanese drama invites viewers to slow down and appreciate the beauty that exists in everyday moments, all through the eyes of a Tokyo toilet cleaner whose measured, methodical existence reveals surprising depth and wisdom.

Premiering at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival where it received a deserved standing ovation, Perfect Days marks a triumphant return to narrative filmmaking for the legendary German director. The film follows Hirayama (played masterfully by Kōji Yakusho, who won Best Actor at Cannes for this role), a middle-aged man who meticulously cleans public toilets in Tokyo with unexpected dedication and satisfaction. His daily routines—waking to the same alarm, tending to his plants, reading books, listening to cassette tapes, and photographing trees—form the rhythmic backbone of a life that initially appears simple but gradually reveals extraordinary depth.

Plot Overview: The Poetry of the Everyday

Perfect Days unfolds as a gentle character study rather than a plot-driven narrative. Hirayama leads a life of carefully cultivated simplicity. Each morning follows the same pattern: he wakes at dawn, freshens up, waters his collection of plants arranged on his apartment balcony, and heads to work in his van. His workday consists of cleaning public toilets across Tokyo—a task he approaches with remarkable craftsmanship and dignity.

In the evenings, Hirayama unwinds with classic literature, captures photographs of trees silhouetted against the sky, and listens to his collection of cassette tapes featuring 1970s rock classics from artists like Lou Reed, Nina Simone, and The Rolling Stones. His life appears solitary but content, marked by small pleasures and mindful attention to his surroundings.

The narrative’s gentle flow is occasionally interrupted by unexpected encounters that provide glimpses into Hirayama’s past:

• A visit from his young coworker Takashi, who lacks Hirayama’s work ethic
• The surprise appearance of his estranged niece Niko, who temporarily stays with him
• A chance meeting with his sister, revealing tensions from their shared history
• Brief interactions with local shopkeepers and regulars at the laundromat

These interactions hint at a more complex life history than Hirayama’s current minimalist existence might suggest. Rather than dramatic revelations, these encounters offer subtle insights into how Hirayama has chosen this life—not by accident, but through deliberate choices that remain largely unexplained.

Cinematic Excellence: Visual Poetry

Breathtaking Cinematography

Perfect Days represents a visual masterclass in finding beauty in ordinary spaces. Franz Lustig’s cinematography transforms mundane urban settings into compositions of extraordinary beauty:

1. Public toilets become temples of light and geometry
2. Tree canopies against the sky create natural abstract paintings
3. Cramped Tokyo apartments reveal intimate, lived-in beauty
4. Urban streets at dawn feel momentarily sacred

The film employs a visual language that mirrors its protagonist’s worldview—finding aesthetic pleasure in clean lines, thoughtful composition, and natural light. Wenders frequently frames Hirayama looking upward at trees, creating a visual motif that suggests spiritual connection without explicit religious references.

Sound Design and Music

The film’s soundscape deserves special mention. Perfect Days features minimal dialogue, allowing environmental sounds to create a rich audio tapestry: water splashing in toilets, leaves rustling in trees, the mechanical clicks of Hirayama’s film camera, and the satisfying snap of cassette tapes being inserted into his player.

The carefully selected soundtrack functions almost as Hirayama’s internal monologue. Songs like Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day” (which inspired the film’s title), The Animals’ “House of the Rising Sun,” and Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” don’t merely accompany scenes but seem to express emotions Hirayama himself rarely verbalizes. As noted by critic Peter Bradshaw in The Guardian, these musical selections create “an ambient soundtrack to his contentment.”

Performance: Kōji Yakusho’s Masterclass in Restraint

At the center of Perfect Days stands Kōji Yakusho’s extraordinary performance—deserving of every accolade it has received. With minimal dialogue, Yakusho conveys Hirayama’s inner world through subtle facial expressions, thoughtful gestures, and deliberate movements.

The performance is a study in restraint. Yakusho never overplays moments of emotion, allowing slight changes in his typically serene expression to register with surprising power. Whether silently enjoying music, carefully cleaning a toilet bowl, or experiencing a rare moment of frustration, Yakusho maintains a consistent character while revealing unexpected dimensions.

What makes the performance particularly remarkable is how Yakusho makes routine actions compelling to watch. The simple act of Hirayama preparing for work becomes a form of meditation through Yakusho’s careful attention. His character finds dignity in maintenance work often overlooked by society, approaching his job with the focus and intention of a craftsman.

Themes and Symbolism

Finding Meaning in Routine

The central theme of Perfect Days explores how meaning can be found not in grand achievements or dramatic life events, but in embracing daily routines with mindfulness and intention. Hirayama’s life stands in contrast to contemporary society’s emphasis on constant advancement and digital connection.

His methodical approach to toilet cleaning transcends mere employment—it becomes almost ritualistic, suggesting that any work approached with care and attention can be meaningful. This philosophy resonates with the Japanese concept of shokunin, a term for artisans who dedicate their lives to mastering their craft.

Nature as Sanctuary

Throughout Perfect Days, natural elements serve as sources of rejuvenation and connection for Hirayama:

• His careful watering of plants each morning
• His daily photographs of trees against the sky
• Moments spent looking upward at leaves rustling in the breeze

These interactions with nature provide a counterbalance to his urban environment and work environment. The trees he photographs represent something enduring and cyclical in contrast to the disposable culture around him.

Analog Appreciation in a Digital World

In an era dominated by smartphones and social media, Hirayama embraces analog technologies and experiences:

• Reading physical books rather than digital screens
• Listening to cassette tapes instead of streaming services
• Using a film camera rather than digital photography
• Writing in a physical journal

These choices aren’t presented as mere nostalgia or technophobia but as conscious decisions to engage with the physical world more directly. As observed in a thoughtful piece about mindful consumption at HablemosMoney, choosing simplicity over endless consumption options can lead to greater satisfaction and financial wellness—a philosophy Hirayama seems to embody.

The Past and Present

While Perfect Days primarily focuses on Hirayama’s present existence, the film subtly explores how past experiences shape our current choices. The few glimpses into Hirayama’s history—particularly through interactions with his niece and sister—suggest that his current life of simplicity may be a response to earlier difficulties.

However, Wenders resists providing explicit backstory or psychological explanations. Instead, the film respects both Hirayama’s privacy and the viewer’s intelligence, allowing us to imagine the journey that brought him to this point without definitive answers.

Cultural Context: Tokyo as Character

Perfect Days offers a unique portrait of Tokyo that contrasts with typical cinematic representations of the city. Rather than focusing on neon-lit nightscapes or crowded intersections, Wenders shows the city’s quieter corners:

• Neighborhood public toilets maintained with meticulous care
• Local laundromats where regulars exchange brief pleasantries
• Small bookshops with carefully curated selections
• Tree-lined streets in less touristy districts

The film captures Japan’s attention to cleanliness and public spaces, particularly through its focus on Tokyo’s designer public toilets—part of the real-life “Tokyo Toilet” project, which commissioned renowned architects to reimagine public facilities. These toilets serve as both workplaces for Hirayama and as symbols of how beauty and dignity can exist in the most utilitarian spaces.

Directorial Vision: Wenders’ Return to Form

For followers of Wim Wenders’ filmography, Perfect Days represents a triumphant return to the humanistic storytelling that characterized earlier masterpieces like “Paris, Texas” and “Wings of Desire.” After years focused primarily on documentary work, this film demonstrates that Wenders hasn’t lost his touch for creating narrative cinema of profound emotional resonance.

The film bears Wenders’ characteristic patience—allowing scenes to unfold at their natural pace rather than rushing toward plot points. His camera often lingers on Hirayama’s face or follows routine activities without cuts, inviting viewers to slow down and become more observant.

At 77 years old when making Perfect Days, Wenders brings the wisdom of his own life experience to this meditation on finding contentment. The film feels like the work of a director who, like his protagonist, has learned which aspects of existence truly matter.

Critical Reception and Impact

Perfect Days received widespread critical acclaim following its Cannes premiere. Critics particularly praised:

• Kōji Yakusho’s subtle, nuanced performance
• The film’s contemplative pace and visual beauty
• Its life-affirming message without sentimentality
• The thoughtful integration of music into the narrative

The film earned a 98% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and made numerous critics’ year-end lists for 2023. Beyond critical success, Perfect Days sparked conversations about work-life balance, mindfulness, and finding purpose in an increasingly chaotic world.

As Japan’s official submission for the International Feature Film category at the 96th Academy Awards, Perfect Days brought renewed attention to Wenders’ work while introducing international audiences to the extraordinary talents of Kōji Yakusho.

Final Assessment: A Quiet Masterpiece

In an era of cinema often dominated by spectacle and sensory overload, Perfect Days stands as a reminder of film’s capacity for quiet observation and emotional resonance. Through its portrait of Hirayama’s carefully structured life, the film offers a gentle but powerful challenge to viewers: to reconsider what constitutes a meaningful existence.

What makes Perfect Days particularly remarkable is how it avoids the potential pitfalls of its premise. A film about a toilet cleaner finding dignity in routine could easily become either patronizing or preachy. Instead, Wenders treats his protagonist with profound respect, presenting Hirayama not as an object of pity or as a simplistic symbol, but as a complex individual whose choices deserve consideration rather than judgment.

The film’s power lies in its suggestion that perhaps the secret to contentment isn’t found in dramatic life changes or acquisitions, but in developing the capacity to appreciate what already exists around us. As Hirayama photographs trees each day, finding endless variation in seemingly similar subjects, we’re reminded of how much we might miss when rushing through our own daily routines.

Strengths:

• Kōji Yakusho’s masterful, restrained performance
• Stunning cinematography that finds beauty in ordinary spaces
• Thoughtful integration of music that enriches the narrative
• Patient pacing that allows for genuine contemplation
• Respect for viewers’ intelligence, avoiding over-explanation

Weaknesses:

• Some viewers may find the deliberate pacing too slow
• Limited plot development might frustrate those seeking conventional narrative
• Minimal dialogue and explanation require active viewer engagement
• The film’s subtlety might cause some thematic elements to be missed

Conclusion: Why Perfect Days Matters

In a cultural moment often characterized by division, distraction, and discontent, Perfect Days offers a rare cinematic experience—one that doesn’t seek to overwhelm or impress but instead creates space for reflection. Through its portrait of Hirayama’s daily rituals and quiet appreciations, the film presents an alternative vision of what a good life might entail.

While Perfect Days doesn’t explicitly critique contemporary society, its very existence feels radical in a world that often equates success with ambition and accumulation. Hirayama’s contentment with his modest circumstances challenges viewers to reconsider their own metrics for fulfillment.

For these reasons, Perfect Days isn’t merely a beautiful film—it’s an important one. In Hirayama’s upward glances at trees against the sky, his careful attention to cleaning tasks, and his evident pleasure in music played on outdated technology, we glimpse possibilities for finding meaning that don’t require constant upgrading or achievement. The film suggests that perhaps perfect days aren’t extraordinary outliers but are available to us regularly—if only we develop the capacity to notice them.

Rating: ★★★★★

Originally posted 2025-03-14 21:24:38.