‘Perfect Days’ Movie Review [AFI Fest 2023]: Wim Wenders Finds The Unparalleled Beauty In The Mundane
Photo from Master Mind
From Jeff Nelson
Perfect Days is a cinematic stunner with a gorgeously thought-provoking perspective on the particulars of daily life. Master filmmaker Wim Wenders approaches a minimalistic narrative with such precision, transforming the mundane into deeply meaningful and singular moments.
Hirayama (Kôji Yakusho) works in sanitation as a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo, Japan. He follows a strict daily routine, taking great pride in the quality of his work, even despite working alongside his unenthused trainee, Takashi (Tokio Emoto). Hirayama fills his time outside of work listening to his favorite cassettes, eating at his regular restaurant, and reading a good book before sleeping to do it all again. However, pains from the past soon arrive on his doorstep.
Perfect Days opens as a slice-of-life drama, following Hirayama’s mundane daily tasks preparing for the day ahead of him. There’s an oddly satisfying quality to watching his thorough cleaning job, wiping every surface down to perfection, even though it will only remain clean for a short time thereafter. Hirayama is a man of few words, entirely forgoing speech in many of his interactions. However, his small, charitable deeds define the brightest moments of his day.
Wenders and Takuma Takasaki’s screenplay releases very little information on Hirayama, making it gradually clearer that he’s much more than meets the eye. There’s a past of pain and regret there, which ultimately serves as the heart of the film, delivering a textured character with a life full of richness that extends far beyond the runtime. Wenders’ pacing asks us to reflect on the small things on the screen, but also in our own lives.
Music has a big role to play in Perfect Days with an exquisite rock soundtrack via cassette tapes in Hirayama’s car in between destinations. Beyond its ability to establish tone, it holds weight in the narrative and central characterization, giving a voice to a man of few words.
Yakusho delivers one of the very best performances of the year as Hirayama. Wenders rightfully trusts in his lead actor’s subtle poignance to carry the film. Perfect Days is utterly precise in its approach to the emotional swings, all of which work exceedingly well thanks to Yakusho’s ability to draw the viewer in and carry them through this marvelous journey.
Perfect Days is a cathartic revelation that will stop you in your tracks, splendidly reflecting on life’s minor beauties with an emotional crescendo that sticks with you. It takes time to adjust to Wenders’ leisurely pacing, but it’s tremendously rewarding once it finds its groove. This is a remarkably talented filmmaker once again proving his ability to create something meaningful and memorable. Stay for the post-credits tag.
Rating: 4.5/5
Perfect Days played AFI Fest 2023 on October 28th, 2023.
