Known for films like “Paris Texas” and “The Wings of Desire,” Wim Wenders is beloved by cinephiles across the globe. His meditative works from the 20th century gave him that love and recognition. Now, he has returned to his old form with his latest feature film. “Perfect Days” (2023). Based in Japan, this humanist film follows a public toilet cleaner from Tokyo who leads a solitary life. In the lead role, Koji Yakusho (Cure, Lost Paradise) brings a distinct charm and elegance to his character. Besides him, it stars Arisa Nakano, Aoi Yamada, Min Tanaka, Sayuri Ishikawa, Tokio Emoto, and Yumi Aso.
Spoilers Ahead
Perfect Days (2023) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
What is ‘Perfect Days’ about?
Wim Wenders’ “Perfect Days” follows Hirayama, a toilet cleaner in Tokyo. Through bits and pieces of his disciplined life, we learn more about him – be it his love for music, books, or plants. Along the way, he has a series of interactions that reveal details about his past. Like Jim Jarmusch’s Paterson, “Perfect Days” is a poetic exploration of the mundane. It makes us seek the beauty of the everyday world around us. Written by Wenders and Takuma Takasaki, this Japanese-language film was nominated at the 96th Academy Awards.
What happens in ‘Perfect Days’?
“Perfect Days” follows the daily life of Hirayama (Koji Yakusho), who works as a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo. He lives a solitary life and barely has any dialogue with another human beings. But that doesn’t stop him from cherishing the simple joys of the world around him. He diligently works during the day and fulfills his responsibilities. During breaks, he sits in a park, eating his packed lunch while looking at the rustling tree leaves. He takes a photograph of rays of light seeping through these leaves. While driving, he listens to cassettes of English songs. Back home, he reads books before going to sleep and takes care of his indoor plants.
Every day, Hirayama sticks to a ritualized routine, undisturbed, mainly due to a lack of distractions. On his non-working days, he goes to the same laundry to clean his clothes, gives his camera roll at the same shop, and gets food at the same place. He seems content with this uniformity. Unlike other men who crib for attention, he remains ambivalent, which makes him appealing. He loves noticing these tiny details that people rarely notice. So, he even nods to an unhoused man in the park that people choose to ignore. At night, he has dreams that impressionistically reflect what he witnessed.
Hirayama’s Working Life
During work, Hirayama has to make peace with his young assistant, Takashi (Tokio Emoto), who is neither interested nor dedicated to his work. So, Hirayama has to keep Takashi focused on his job. One day, Takashi asks if he can leave early to go out with Aya (Aoi Yamada). Somehow, he hijacks Hirayama’s van to reach his destination. Along the way, he also mildly insults Hirayama. Yet, Aya sees Hirayama’s cassette collection in awe. She puts on a song and notes that she loves the distinct cassette sound. Hirayama smiles to himself.
Later, Takashi tries to convince Hirayama to sell his rare cassette tapes. But Hirayama refuses to do so. Instead, he helps Takashi with cash for his date. Some days later, Aya joins Hirayama in his van to return a tape that Takashi sneaked into her bag. She plays it in the van, and they listen to it together. Before leaving, she kisses him on the cheek. He drives home smitten by this surprise. Back home, he gets another one.
Hirayama & Niko
Hirayama’s niece, Niko (Arisa Nakano), arrives at his doorstep with just a backpack. Initially, he does not recognize her, owing to years of distance. But he soon lets her in his humble abode. The next morning, he tip-toes around the house to not wake her up. Yet, she senses his presence. She invites herself to spend the day with him. While he works, she sees people casually disrespecting him. Still, he wears a charming smile. During lunch, she takes off her cell phone to take a picture of an overhead tree. Then, he takes out his camera to do the same. They bond over their mutual interest in photography. At the time, he had forgotten that he had gifted her a similar analog camera when she was young.
Why does Niko come to stay with Hirayama?
Niko comes to stay with Hirayama because she has had an argument with her mother, Keiko (Yumi Aso). She wants to temporarily abandon that life and continue living with her uncle. Hirayama advises her to live in the present moment rather than worrying about the future. It seems like his zen philosophy. Soon after, Keiko comes outside Hirayama’s modest home to bring Niko back home. Niko refuses to leave, but Hirayama convinces her to do so. While she is away, Keiko tells Hirayama that their father is ill. She asks him to return home and meet him. But he refuses. Once Keiko and Niko leave, Hirayama cries alone.
Perfect Days (2023) Movie Ending Explained:
Niko’s departure leaves a hole in Hirayama’s life. Her visit presumably makes him recall some painful memories. Later at work, Takashi bails on him. He quits without any prior notice, leaving Hirayama to do extra work. The next day, he gets another assistant who actually helps him with work. Besides work, Hirayama keeps seeing signs that make him reflect on his old age and his irrelevance. After work, he goes to his usual restaurant and notices its proprietor (Sayuri Ishikawa) hugging a stranger (Tomokazu Miura). She notices Hirayama. Embarrassed, he rides away on his bicycle. He buys a pack of cigarettes and alcohol and goes to a nearby riverbank.
The stranger reaches there and asks him for a cigarette. He reveals that he is the proprietor’s ex-husband. They met each other only then after their separation. He has decided to meet her and make peace before he dies from cancer. Before leaving, he asks Hirayama to take care of his ex-wife after his death. Hirayama shyly accepts it. Later, while driving his van, he listens to Nina Simone’s ‘I’m Feeling Good.’ He is hit with a sudden rush of emotions. We see him smiling cheek-to-cheek while tears roll down his eyes. Through this moment, we get a bittersweet ending to a bittersweet portrait of this man.
Perfect Days (2023) Themes Analysed:
Solitude & Tranquillity
“Perfect Days” follows a solitary man through his daily routine. We see him content with his life without any unreasonable desires. He sticks to a routine and finds calm in the joys of the everyday world. Be it reading books, listening to music, and taking care of plants, he seeks a sense of tranquillity through simple ways. His zen-like attitude values the present moment instead of mulling over the future. Through glimpses of his past, we get a hint of his stoic mindset, which may be the root of his solitude. The film shows Hirayama reflecting on his choice of life and its consequences and offers a bittersweet ode to those like him.
Path of Life
In “Perfect Days,” the protagonist, Hirayama, works as a toilet cleaner in parts of Tokyo. His estranged sister looks down on his profession, whereas her daughter connects with him regardless of that. Their class disparity becomes clear through their differing viewpoints. Despite all those opinions, Hirayama diligently works every day and seeks thoroughness and precision. He accepts this path of life and takes it every day as it comes along, even if sorrow occasionally creeps up on him.
