Perfect Days

"Perfect Days" (2024) doesn't have much of a plot and focuses on a very lowly regarded job, toilet cleaning.  Nonetheless it has attracted a lot of favorable attention.  The lead character has an unusual joy of life (most of the time) and encounters minor problems very calmly.

Cleaning toilets is not only mundane, but also repulsive.  The kernel of the idea came from conversations between Wim Wenders, Koji Yanai and Takuma Takasaki.  Wim was a well established film maker who had come to admire Japanese cinema, particularly Yusujiro Ozu.  Koji was in charge of the Tokyo Toilet Project and met with Wim who thought a public toilet was like a sacred place.  Takuma was at an advertising agency and felt the project could be made into a film.  Originally it was thought the film should contain four short stories, but Wim pushed for a full length feature. 

Check how important toilets are:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2014/11/world-toilet-day.html

We meet Hirayama as he gets out of bed and get set to work.  He is very methodical, scrubbing, spraying and gathering trash.  The toilets are the same, but the buildings are minor architectural master pieces.  He is interrupted by patrons including business men in a hurry, young kids (some of whom need help) and the homeless.  He allows each some privacy and resumes his work. 

His routine is broken by a lunch break where he eats a sandwich and uses his camera to take a photo of the trees and plants in a park where he eats his lunch.  Other times we see him at a bar where he often watches baseball games.  At one time a co-worker asks to borrow his car so he can impress his girl friend and we soon see all three in his car listening to a music tape.  Later the girl friend asks to listen to the tape without the boyfriend.  

On another occasion Hirayama is greeted by a young girl he doesn't at first recognize, but then knows it is a niece, Niko who has grown up since he last saw her.  She claims to want to live with him, but shortly he meets the mother, his estranged sister.   

All through these experiences Hirayama very occasionally frowns, but almost right away smiles like he is enjoying what he does and who he meets.

Part of his enjoyment comes from a lot of music usually of American hits of the time with a few Japanese versions.  The film ends perfectly with Nina Simone singing"Feeling Good".

The film leaves a very good feeling and an appreciation how a humble job can be of service to mankind and fulfilling.  A lot of effort went into the impression.  Here are some of those responsible. 

Wim Wenders  was the director, writer and producer.  Born in Germany he went through a number of transitions before making films.  He studied  medicine and philosophy, tried painting, engraving, was a film critic and eventually studied film in Germany.  After a few films in Germany he got the attention of Francis Ford Coppola, in 1978, but after awhile they quarreled.  Even so, Wim established his international credentials.  He went onto to earn 89 directing credits, 76 producing credits and 54 for writing including "King of the Road" (1976).  He received many nominations and awards and with $5,000 from Cannes he gave it all to Canadian, Atom Egoyan. 

Takuma Takasaki was another producer and co-writer.  He has been an international award winning creative advertising director as well as a novelist.  He has 4 credits for writing and 3 for producing.

Koji Yanai was a producer.  In 2012 he joined Fast Retailing and given responsibility for sports marketing.  As part of that he talked to a Paralympian tennis players who brought up the problem of accessibility for disabled people in Tokyo.  Koji at first focused on dealing with that, but soon expanded concept to making the big city more accessible for all people.  He was in charge of the Tokyo Toilet Project and he searched among producers, creative architects and product designers.   He, Wim and Takuma formed the team that pushed the film through.

Franz Lustig was the cinematographer.  German born he has 35 cinematographer credits, 3 for camera and electrical department and 2 for editing.

Toni Froschhammer did the editing.  He has 19 editing credits, 1 for directing and 1 for composing.

Koji Yakusha played the lead, Hirayama  with very little dialogue, but his subtle nuanced facial expressions earned him the best actor award at Cannes (his second such award).  He has 117 acting credits including "Tampopoo" (1985), "Shall We Dance?" (1997), "The Eel" (1997), "Cure" (1997), "Memoirs of a Geisha" (2005), "Babel" (2006) and "The Third Murder" (2017).   See the third paragraph http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2015/03/japanese-movies-are-more-than-godzilla.html  and also about other Japanese movies.  Plus check for another of his triumphs:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/06/cure-scary-masterpiece-from-japan.html

Tokio Emoto played Takashi, a co-worker.  He has 138 acting credits including "Norwegian Wood" (2010).

Aoi Yamada plays Ayla, Takashi's girl friend.  She has been a model and a dancer.  As a dancer she performed a solo at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics Closing Ceremony.  She has 5 acting credits including "First Love" (2022)  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/12/first-love.html

Anisa Nakano played Niko, the niece.  She has 4 acting credits.

I watched this film on  a DVD from the library.  It will calm you and make you feel good.