Perfect Days

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Plot Summary

Hirayama (Kôji Yakusho) lives a life of gentle routine in Tokyo as a public toilet cleaner. He rises early, meticulously cleans designer restrooms, listens to vintage cassettes in his van, photographs trees and captures “komorebi”—those fleeting patterns of light through leaves—during quiet lunch breaks. His life is solitary but full: he reads Faulkner and Highsmith, cares for his plants, and shares small, meaningful connections—with a young assistant, a cafe owner, and a niece who briefly disrupts his flow. The rhythm is meditative: he remembers the past only through subtle reverie, and lives fully in each present moment until a gentle shift reaches his heart.

Why its good

Visual poetry & sound design: Wenders’ lens turns mundane settings into art. The 4:3 framing and attention to komorebi moments make city and nature blend beautifully. Mindful pacing: The film’s unhurried tempo is its strength—not slow, but purposeful. It invites you to breathe with Hirayama and value the small gestures. Authentic performance: Yakusho’s expressive silence is magnetic—conveying depth through a glance, a smile, or a sigh. Critics praise his “rich interior life… without leaning on dialogue”. Emotional resonance: Whether through a stolen moment with his niece or a shared song in a restaurant, the film subtly reveals layers of joy, loss, and reconnection. Soundtrack & analog charm: The cassette tape selections—from Patti Smith to Lou Reed—aren’t just nostalgia; they echo Hirayama’s soul and enrich his world. Perfect Days is a quiet love letter to finding bliss in repetition, appreciating the fleeting light, and listening to life’s smallest rhythms. If you’re in the mood for meditative cinema that celebrates the ordinary—and for film that feels like it’s breathing with you—this is a film to savor. Just be ready for a gentler journey than a typical drama. It’s visually poetic 🌿, sonically immersive 🎶, and profoundly touching if you let it in. Curious to hear your thoughts once you watch it!

What Doesn't Work

Minimal plot: The film is more mood than narrative—if you prefer drama or conflict, its calm repetition may feel thin.
calming, emotional, cozy, hopeful

Find at Barrie Public Library

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Perfect Days