Perfect Days – Film Review
by Frank L.

Director – Wim Wenders
Writers – Wim Wenders
Takuma Takasaki
Stars – Koji Yakusho, Tokio Emoto, Arisa Nakano

Wim Wenders, the German film director is responsible for a catalogue of classics including Paris, Texas (1984) and Wings of Desire (1987). In this work, he extols the work ethic and life of Hirayama (Koji Yakusho). He is a ‘Tokyo Toilet Cleaner’. That fact is emblazoned in capital letters on the jacket that he wears. The film begins with Hirayama being woken by an alarm. His sparse space consists of a simple room. Its furniture is a chest of drawers located in one corner and a bookcase. His bed is a traditional futon which he folds methodically and places in another corner when he gets up. He reads in bed at night with the use of an anglepoise lamp which stands on the floor. On a small terrace, there is a cluttered collection of potted plants. Down a flight of stairs is a small kitchen and washing area and his front door.

He lives alone. His work consists of driving around in his van in order to clean public lavatories. These are the most engaging structures of great architectural diversity. They are a delight to the eye. A great deal of time is given to Hirayama cleaning these structures and their fittings which are to Western eyes remarkably clean anyway before he and his various cloths get to work. His work allows Hirayama to move at his own pace so he has time to appreciate the beauty of trees, the sky and much else besides. He is an observer. These things give him pleasure. He is also a listener and when he is in his van he plays from an eclectic collection of tapes music which unsurprisingly includes Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day”.

While remarkably little happens, the rhythm of Hirayama’s well-structured, contented life grips your attention. Other individuals intrude including an incompetent, penniless assistant who is besottedly in love, and his more acute girlfriend. There is a small restaurant proprietor. The film changes gear quite substantially with the arrival of his niece who is running away from his sister, her mother. The sister lives coldly with the trappings of excessive wealth. She cannot comprehend Hirayama’s life. It is easy to understand why the niece ran away. Brother and sister inhabit different worlds and pass as ships in the night.

Although little happens and even less is spoken, Yakusho gives a masterful performance as he goes around his trivial round and common tasks. Wenders with co-writer Takuma Takasaki have created a hymn to the joys of routine. The disruptions to that routine are small. Hirayama has a full life that he chooses to live his way.  Yakusho and Wenders combine together to reveal the value of that life in all its simplicity and in its depth.