Perfect Days

Koji Yakusho mesmerizes as Hirayama, a contented middle-aged man living a structured life as a Tokyo toilet cleaner in Wim Wenders’s poetic and contemplative new film. The drama weaves together short stories that reveal how Hirayama’s deep passion for music, books, and tree photography enriches his daily routine. As the film elegantly unfolds, unexpected encounters add detail to the facade of Hirayama’s generosity and simplicity. Wenders’s delicate filmmaking captures Tokyo’s essence through carefully framed shots, enhancing the viewer’s connection with the city. Music, mainly 1960s pop, becomes a narrative thread, reflecting Hirayama’s emotional state. It’s impossible not to be engrossed by Yakusho’s captivating, subtle, and passionate performance, for which he won the Best Actor Award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, where the film also deservedly won the Ecumenical Jury Prize.