Perfect Days

A lyrical and contemplative film about finding the beauty and simple joys in everyday life.

Hirayama (Kōji Yakusho) is a public toilet cleaner in an upscale district in Tokyo who takes meticulous pride in the work he does. His days are filled with routine and he lives a modest, solitary life. His simple pleasures are collecting audio cassettes of his favourite musicians, reading classic books before bed and taking photos of trees. The only human interaction he seems to have is with his young, brash work colleague. Through a series of unexpected encounters and the unannounced appearance of his young niece at his home, we begin to understand more about Hirayama’s past and what he has left behind.

Curator’s note
Throughout his career, Wenders' has been paying homage to one of his favourite filmmakers, Japanese director Yasujirō Ozu, who was also the subject of his 1985 documentary Tokyo‑Ga. Perfect Days is the ideal crystallisation of Ozu’s films and his keen sense for finding the poetry in the lives of everyday people. Boasting a radiant central performance from Cannes Best Actor winner Kōji Yakusho, who conveys so much with little dialogue, the film is ultimately a soulful ode to Wenders’ expansive yet intimate world view and demonstrates that as a filmmaker he has a lot more to offer and explore.