Wim Wenders’ “Perfect Days” is the portrait of a life that might seem small and simple, but is full of insight, discipline, and steady rewards.
It stars Koji Yakusho, in a performance that won him Best Actor at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, as Hirayama, a middle-aged man whose daily life is a steady routine of work and well-earned idle time. Hirayama wakes every morning, alone in his small apartment, where he readies himself for another day of working in Tokyo.
Hirayama cleans public restrooms, both porta-a-potties and brick-and-mortar bathrooms. He does this cheerfully, visibly works very hard and takes pride in doing his job extremely well.
He concludes his days with a thorough cleansing, a homecooked meal, a good book and a good night’s sleep. We watch as he repeats this...