It takes a peace of mind to appreciate a lot of Wim Wenders' work, and Perfect Days is no different.
The latest movie from legendary director tells a story of Hirayama, a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo, played by Koji Yakusho. He reads books, listens to some terrific classic rock music on his way to and from work, waters his plants, photographs the nature and enjoys lunches in a park. See, there are no extraordinary things about Hirayama's life, but Perfect Days proves it's not a bad thing at all. Quite contrary, actually.
Despite working in a job many would consider belittling, Hirayama is happier than ever. Thanks to some superb acting coming from Koji Yakusho, the character's peace of mind and happiness is visible in subtle gestures. He smiles when he visits the same place over and over for dinner, or when he can enjoy a ride through Tokyo on his bike.
Sometimes, Hirayama stumbles upon unexpected things, like his family members' unusual visits, or meeting a stranger in the city. This creates ripples in his daily routines, yet, with admirable bravery, he welcomes them and also enjoys them.
This doesn't mean there is no depth to Hirayama's character. Throughout the movie, breadcrumbs are left over, mostly thanks to aforementioned encounters. They point out his potential loneliness or regret over the lack of strong relationship with his family. But, these storylines are never finished, let alone properly picked up, with the movie leading us to focus back on Hirayama's daily life essentially.
And that's fine. These offscreen stories give Hirayama human depth. Everyone has their own unfinished businesses and worries. Everyone's got something to do, somewhere to be, and so on. Everyone has made some mistakes in life.
Each of us also has our own routine, which we overlook yet so often.
Perfect Days reminds us to cherish the simple things in life every once in a while. We get so disconnected with the reality due to social media nowadays. But, Hirayama, who doesn't even own a smartphone, reminds us of what's important--appreciating every day's struggles and blessings alike.
This movie reminded me of my childhood. I was one of the lucky ones to have little to no worries when growing up, and was able to cherish the nature and innocence of my age. Each time Hirayama was on the screen, I felt that same nostalgic feeling. The refreshing smell of spring's breeze through the windows, the sound of trees moving, reading books to bed on peaceful evenings. I hope it makes you feel the same.
The latest movie from legendary director tells a story of Hirayama, a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo, played by Koji Yakusho. He reads books, listens to some terrific classic rock music on his way to and from work, waters his plants, photographs the nature and enjoys lunches in a park. See, there are no extraordinary things about Hirayama's life, but Perfect Days proves it's not a bad thing at all. Quite contrary, actually.
Despite working in a job many would consider belittling, Hirayama is happier than ever. Thanks to some superb acting coming from Koji Yakusho, the character's peace of mind and happiness is visible in subtle gestures. He smiles when he visits the same place over and over for dinner, or when he can enjoy a ride through Tokyo on his bike.
Sometimes, Hirayama stumbles upon unexpected things, like his family members' unusual visits, or meeting a stranger in the city. This creates ripples in his daily routines, yet, with admirable bravery, he welcomes them and also enjoys them.
This doesn't mean there is no depth to Hirayama's character. Throughout the movie, breadcrumbs are left over, mostly thanks to aforementioned encounters. They point out his potential loneliness or regret over the lack of strong relationship with his family. But, these storylines are never finished, let alone properly picked up, with the movie leading us to focus back on Hirayama's daily life essentially.
And that's fine. These offscreen stories give Hirayama human depth. Everyone has their own unfinished businesses and worries. Everyone's got something to do, somewhere to be, and so on. Everyone has made some mistakes in life.
Each of us also has our own routine, which we overlook yet so often.
Perfect Days reminds us to cherish the simple things in life every once in a while. We get so disconnected with the reality due to social media nowadays. But, Hirayama, who doesn't even own a smartphone, reminds us of what's important--appreciating every day's struggles and blessings alike.
This movie reminded me of my childhood. I was one of the lucky ones to have little to no worries when growing up, and was able to cherish the nature and innocence of my age. Each time Hirayama was on the screen, I felt that same nostalgic feeling. The refreshing smell of spring's breeze through the windows, the sound of trees moving, reading books to bed on peaceful evenings. I hope it makes you feel the same.
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