📺 The simplicity of living: The 2023 Oscan nominated Japanese film Perfect Days brings a profound concept to the screen: the beauty of uncomplicated living. We follow Hirayama, a Tokyo toilet cleaner who approaches each day without grand expectations, finding meaning in the rhythm of routine rather than the pursuit of more.

Ritual as a sacred practice: Work, cassette tapes, point-and-shoot photography, plants, books — repeat. Hirayama’s structured daily routine isn’t monotony — it’s meditation. Each pre-dawn awakening in his modest home marks the beginning of another carefully observed day. Though he speaks little, his appreciation for companionship runs deep. Much of the film’s power lies in what remains unspoken, requiring viewers to read the subtle language of gesture and glance to understand our protagonist’s inner world. This isn’t a film driven by dramatic plot twists or high-stakes action — it finds its drama in the quiet moments of a life fully lived.

Visual poetry: Veteran director Wim Wenders captures something truly exquisite. Japan’s natural beauty unfolds through Hirayama’s daily photography ritual, as he documents his beloved trees with the same devotion others might reserve for grand adventures. The film’s color palette — warm, nature-inspired tones — creates an atmosphere of profound calm that mirrors our protagonist’s inner state.

A gentle revolution. In a world of constant documentation, hyperconnectivity, and flaying overachievement, Hirayama’s contentment feels almost revolutionary. While others chase career milestones and post their lives online, Hirayama finds fulfillment in work that many would consider humble at best, degrading at worst. His colleagues question why he takes toilet cleaning so seriously, but Hirayama offers no justification. What might appear as loneliness to others reveals itself as deep self-satisfaction. Perhaps this is the element we have forgotten about living well.

Perfect Days doesn’t suggest that life can or should be free from pain. Hirayama encounters reminders of his past — unwelcome memories that surface despite his peaceful present. But the film’s wisdom lies in showing how he sits with these difficult moments without allowing them to destroy his carefully cultivated tranquility. He neither ignores the pain nor lets it consume him, finding instead a middle path that honors both his sorrow and joy.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can find the movie on Apple TV+, Amazon Prime or watch the trailer on YouTube (watch, runtime: 1:37).

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