I walked into Perfect Days expecting simplicity — maybe even boredom. A film about a janitor in Tokyo who cleans toilets every day? I’ll admit, I was skeptical. But what I got instead was an emotional undercurrent so profound it left me sitting in stunned silence long after the credits rolled. If you’ve ever found beauty in routine or longed to slow down your chaotic life, trust me, this one will stir something deep in your soul.
Plot Without the Spoilers: A Life in the Details
The story follows Hirayama, played masterfully by Koji Yakusho, a soft-spoken man who spends his days scrubbing public toilets around Tokyo. He listens to old rock cassettes, reads William Faulkner, and takes photographs of tree shadows. That’s… basically it. But beneath that stillness lies a quiet rebellion against modern chaos. Director Wim Wenders (Paris, Texas) doesn’t give us action or conflict in the traditional sense — he gives us meditative stillness, where the emotion builds slowly, almost invisibly.
Director’s Vision: A Haiku on Film
Wenders crafts Perfect Days like a cinematic haiku — short, minimal, yet layered with meaning. Every frame feels intentional. This isn’t Tokyo as neon frenzy; it’s Tokyo in soft daylight, filtered through Hirayama’s peaceful lens. There’s almost a spiritual rhythm to the repetition of his days, and Wenders lingers on the small joys — flashes of sunlight, the rustle of trees, the perfect alignment of a toilet paper roll. It’s mesmerizing in the strangest, most beautiful way.
Standout Performance: Koji Yakusho’s Silent Masterpiece
Koji Yakusho (known for Shall We Dance? and 13 Assassins) won Best Actor at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, and it’s obvious why. His performance is wordless for long stretches, yet you feel every emotion. A flicker of hesitation, a half-smile, the glint of memory in his eyes — it’s a masterclass in restraint. Hirayama may not say much, but you’ll never stop wondering what he’s thinking… or what he's lost.
Cinematography & Sound: Poetry in Silence
Shot by Franz Lustig, the cinematography is simply breathtaking. Long takes, soft lighting, and symmetrical compositions turn mundane moments into visual poems. And the soundtrack — featuring The Velvet Underground, Patti Smith, and Lou Reed — adds unexpected electricity. There’s a scene with “Perfect Day” playing in the background that hits like an emotional sledgehammer.
Themes & Symbolism: The Zen of the Ordinary
This film is a meditation on solitude, healing, and finding peace in the repetitive. It gently asks: Is happiness found in doing great things, or doing small things with grace? Hirayama’s past is hinted at but never fully revealed, making his quiet dignity even more powerful. The toilets he cleans? They’re metaphors for inner cleansing, care, and unnoticed labor.
Factual Check: Accuracy Confirmed
All cast and crew information was carefully verified via IMDb. Perfect Days (2023) is directed by Wim Wenders, written by Wenders and Takuma Takasaki, with Koji Yakusho in the lead role. The IMDb rating stands at 7.7/10 as of this writing. The estimated budget was around $5 million.
Audience Reactions: USA vs. UK
In the USA, Perfect Days has found an audience among indie lovers and art-house devotees. Critics have praised its meditative tone, though some general viewers label it as “too slow.” In the UK, the response has been more universally warm — perhaps due to the British fondness for understated, character-driven narratives. UK viewers often highlight the film’s emotional restraint and elegant pacing as strengths. Across both regions, however, Koji Yakusho’s performance has received near-unanimous acclaim.
Final Verdict: Is It For You?
This is not a film for multitasking or background noise. It’s a film to feel. If you’re willing to sit in stillness, observe quietly, and lean into emotion without melodrama — Perfect Days might just perfect your evening. I’d rate it 9/10 for those ready to slow down and truly see the world.
