Wim Wender’s Perfect Days is a film with a straightforward premise. Still, it’s because of its simplicity and execution to near perfection that truly makes this movie one of the most entertaining and engaging watches. The film follows the daily routine of an elderly Japanese man named Hirayama (Kōji Yakusho) who spends his days at work as a toilet cleaner and his late afternoons and nights doing all sorts of activities such as going to a public bathhouse and eating at his favorite restaurants.
Between these daily tasks and activities, Hirayama spends his free time exploring his passions, such as listening to classic rock on his old cassette tapes, gardening and photographing trees and reading books before bed. However, despite Hirayama’s desire to stick to this tight regiment as closely as possible, it is often interrupted by people who unexpectedly appear in his life, like his niece, Niko (Arisa Nakano), and his estranged rich sister, Keiko (Yumi Asō).
Perfect Days is heavily inspired by many minimalist films, most notably Chantal Ackerman’s Jeanne Dielman, as both films follow lonely individuals who stick to a strict, repetitive schedule to keep themselves busy but slowly start cracking when their schedules become interrupted. However, while Jeanne Dielman explores this concept through a more pessimistic and even horrific lens, Wim Wenders provides a bittersweet perspective in Perfect Days.
Throughout most of the film, we learn very little about the character of Hirayama outside of what is shown on screen. We know little about his past, detailed relationship with his family, or even his internal thoughts and beliefs. However, the film expertly yet subtly reveals that as more and more characters enter his life and disrupt his cyclical routine, he is forced to confront reality, which he is very clearly terrified of.
On the surface, Perfect Days appears to be a simple and cute movie where we watch this old Japanese toilet cleaner live out his life and enjoy the small moments in life to the fullest, but underneath this sweet aesthetic lies a sense of darkness and discomfort that causes audiences to reexamine Hirayama under a different lens. Hirayama’s strict, regimented schedule almost acts like his own little world, a bubble that he willingly puts himself in to shield himself from the harshness that reality brings. He prefers immersing himself in his music or a good book than going out and interacting with someone because, in his eyes, doing the former makes him more comfortable and at peace. It is only when unexpected occurrences happen in his life, such as when his selfish, lazy co-worker Takashi attempts to pawn off his cassette tapes or quits without giving notice, that he becomes visibly frustrated and upset.
Wenders wisely chooses not to explore Hirayama’s past, instead dropping hints and clues and letting the audience conclude. One notable example is when Keiko comes to his apartment to pick up Neko and asks him questions like if he is really a toilet cleaner and whether he will visit their ill father at the home he was placed in. After Keiko leaves with Neko, Hirayama breaks down crying. This is as close as we get to exploring Hirayama’s character, and it is entirely up to us to piece together these clues and infer what happened in his life that caused him to be where he is now. Perhaps he came from a family of wealth but left it behind to pursue his passion for music and literature. Maybe he was looked down upon by his father because Keiko became wealthy and successful while accomplishing very little in his life. It’s unclear, but that ambiguity makes this film so engaging.
Perfect Days is ultimately a vibe movie, and like many other great vibe movies, it manages to execute its simple premise very well using great performances (especially from lead actor Kōji Yakusho) and directing. Additionally, the film boasts gorgeous-looking cinematography and natural lightning that enhances a lot of what happens in the film plot-wise, and the result is arguably one of the best-looking films of 2023.
For a film about an old guy cleaning the toilet, Perfect Days held my attention from beginning to end, and it is undoubtedly a movie I hope to revisit someday. Still, it has also inspired me to check out Wender’s other films.