Perfect Days

''Perfect Days'' is a 2023 drama film directed by Wim Wenders, from a script written by Wenders and Takuma Takasaki. A co-production between Japan and Germany, the film combines four short stories and stars Kōji Yakusho in the role of a toilet cleaner.

The film competed for the Palme d'Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, where it premiered on 25 May and won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury and the Best Actor Award for Kōji Yakusho. It was nominated for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards, becoming the first film not directed by a Japanese filmmaker to be nominated as the Japanese entry.

Plot

Hirayama works as a toilet cleaner in Tokyo. He seems content with his simple life. Following a structured, ritualised everyday life, he repeats it daily from dawn. He also dedicates his free time to his passion for music, in his van to and from work, and books, every night before bed.

We also see Hirayama's fondness for trees, through his gardening and photographing them. His pride in his work is apparent by its thoroughness and precision. More about Hirayama is gradually revealed through a series of encounters.

Hirayama's young workmate Takashi works the second shift. Unlike Hirayama he is often late, loud and less thorough. One day, a young woman named Aya stops by the toilets to see Takashi so he hurries to finish, then when his motorbike breaks down Takashi convinces Hirayama to let him use the van. Hirayama stays in the back while Takashi talks and drives. Hirayama rarely speaks and has an eclectic collection of mostly rock 'n' roll cassettes.

When Aya says Takashi can stay with her as she works at a bar, he complains loudly that he's broke. He talks Hirayama into going into a shop to get some of his cassettes appraised. When Takashi finds out their value, he tries to get him to sell them. Hirayama refuses, but give him cash to appease him.

The next day is quiet. Hirayama finds a tic-tac-toe started by someone and left inconspicuously in a stall, which he participates in over the whole week. He has a sandwich daily under the trees in the park, snapping photos of their branches and leaves. Hirayama later goes to the public baths and finally has dinner at a humble eatery.

Aya catches up with Hirayama to return a Patti Smith cassette she'd taken without asking. She asks to play it in his van once more, then gives him a thank you kiss on the cheek before leaving. On his free day, Hirayama does his laundry, takes his film to be developed, cleans his flat, buys a new book and has dinner out, where the female proprietor of the restaurant appreciates his quietude.

Niko, Hirayama's niece, shows up by surprise. She's run away from his wealthy estranged sister Keiko's home. He lets her accompany him on his next two days of routine, and she even helps him clean at work. Eventually, Hirayama calls Keiko, who comes to collect Niko in the evening. She can't believe he is a toilet cleaner and asks him to visit their father, who is failing.

The next day, Takashi quits without giving notice, so Hirayama has to cover his shift. At the end of the very long day, he frustratedly calls the company and insists they find a replacement. Luckily they have one the following day.

Again Hirayama has his free day. As he approaches the restaurant, he finds the owner in an emotional embrace with another man and hurries off so as to not disturb them. He purchases three beers and some cigarettes and goes to the riverbank but starts coughing immediately after taking his first drag. A man approaches and asks Hirayama for a cigarette, also having a coughing fit. He is the same man Hirayama saw embracing the restaurant owner earlier. Over beers, the man explains the two had divorced seven years ago, and she opened the restaurant the following year. He's returned to make peace with her as he has terminal cancer. The two men play with their shadows before parting ways.

Hirayama's work week starts again listening to music in his van on his way to work.

Cast

Production

Right after the pandemic, Wenders was invited to Tokyo by Koji Yanai to observe the Tokyo Toilet Project, a project in which Japanese public toilets were redesigned in 17 locations throughout Shibuya with the help of 16 creators invited from around the world. Wenders was invited to take a look at the uniqueness of each of these facilities. At first, the producers envisioned Wenders would make a short film or series of short films on the facilities, but he opted for a feature film, with co-screenwriter Takuma Takasaki explaining that the conception of the character of Hirayama felt like new territory for them. The film is produced by Master Mind Limited (Japan) and Spoon Inc. (Japan) in collaboration with Wenders Images (Germany).

The film was shot over 17 days in Tokyo.

Soundtrack

Release

''Perfect Days'' was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on 25 May 2023. It was also invited to the 27th Lima Film Festival in the Acclaimed section, where it was screened on 11 August 2023. Subsequent screenings were held at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival and 2023 New York Film Festival. World sales were handled by The Match Factory, with Neon distributing the film in the United States, and Mubi distributing the film in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Turkey and Latin American regions. ''Perfect Days'' was released in Germany on 21 December 2023 by DCM, and in Japan on 22 December by Bitters End.

Reception

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 94% based on 77 reviews, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "An absorbing slice-of-life drama led by a remarkable Kôji Yakusho performance, ''Perfect Days'' adds a quietly soaring gem to director/co-writer Wim Wenders' estimable filmography." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 76 out of 100, based on 15 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.

Hsin Wang of FIPRESCI described the film as Wim Wenders' lifetime masterpiece.

German film journalist Dieter Osswald wrote, "With furious ease, Wenders succeeds in making a rather perfect film."

Accolades

See also

* List of submissions to the 96th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
* List of Japanese submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film

Notes

References

External links

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{{Wim Wenders

2023 films
2023 drama films
2023 independent films
2020s Japanese films
2020s German films
Japanese drama films
German drama films
2020s Japanese-language films
Films directed by Wim Wenders
Films set in Tokyo
Films shot in Tokyo
Neon (company) films
Films with screenplays by Wim Wenders