MOVIE | “Perfect Days” is perfect

I first watched Perfect Days on a fine sunny day when the first winds of spring breezed in Paris. But I was on the brink of a(nother) burnout, exhausted both physically and mentally. My mind was in all over the place, fractions of stimulis scattered and blocked any train of thoughts longer than a few minutes. In fact, I had postponed the viewing for so long out of the unwillingness to leave the house, until it was getting to the end of the showtime in those very few cinemas left. And I was so glad I had pushed myself to see it. In many ways the movie has saved me from sinking.

Perfect Days easily ranks in my top 3 favourites of all time. It’s been a long, long time since I was last touched that deeply by a movie, my life being shaken long after it ended. Alongside with Little Forest and Every Day a Good Day (Dans le jardin qu’on dirait éternel) it has this wonderful healing power that I didn’t know I need. A beautiful ode to an ordinary daily life of an ordinary person. Nothing fancy, just pure dedication to accept and treasure each and every day comes what may. Rain or shine, the protagonist Hirayama, a middle-aged Tokyo public toilet janitor, will opens the door, looks at the skies and smiles, as if telling himself: “A wonderful day ahead!”. Happiness is in the attitude, as the film continued, it is made and chosen, not given.

I found my eyes tearing up throughout the movie, not because of plot-twists or dramas or unfortunate incidents intended to strike your soft spots, but because it was too beautiful. For two hours straight I was mesmerized by this masterpiece well crafted with grace and delicacy. A rare flawless jewel of character study that shows, not tells. It’s not easy to depict an introvert person of few words with well-structured, almost rigid routines as an interesting hero. But Hirayama’s great tranquility is definitely not boring, instead it makes him all the more enigmatic and humane at the same time. Behind the stoic surface lie impressive inner strength, courage and self-respect for living his life the way he wants it, the way he chooses to do it. Unnoticed and underappreciated by most people, he takes great pride for his work and his own being, without being affected by others’ views on him.

Despite his very modest job, Hirayama’s lifestyle is far from stale and stagnant. In fact, it’s one of the most fulfilled that one can ever wish for, sparkled with delights and passion, cherished by moments of serenity, beauty and small pleasures. As someone with little means, he is surrounded by books, art, music, and nature. His love and pursuit for finer things in life were understated but deep-seated, creating a stark contrast between the minimal external possessions and the enriched inner world. Through the endless mundanes as much as the daily blessings, he taught me many lessons in the most convincing manners, most of which I’ve already known, but once in a while, I’d really need this powerful reminder of how little I need to be happy and of what is most important in my life, so as to be consistent with my priorities and not to get lost in trivials. A stunningly profound experience as I watch him live in the present moment with purpose, mindfulness and integrity.

The narrative is deceptively simple, seemingly focusing on repetitive day-to-days, yet every encounter, every change, every ray of sunlight or raindrop, every little joy brings in great blessing. Without the need for sentimentality and melodrama, and no avoidance of bitter truth, hardship and loss, the storytelling was masterfully brought to life through the incredibly poignant acting of Koji Yakusho as Hirayama, who won the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival for his role. Subtle nuances of emotions portrayed through exquisite facial expressions and mannerism, he delivered a brilliant performance with ease and sensitivity.

In the last scene as the striking voice of Nina Simone rises up high in Tokyo’s sky, promising another “perfect” day, the viewer may get lost in those expressive eyes which can display every possible emotion in a prolonged closeup shot. We only get that exceptional immersion in its splendid music and soundscape in cinema. I just sat there, sobbing quietly, and let the happiness embrace me inside. Together with the poetic visuals, sublime choices of songs made it an unforgetable, all-rounded movie. An elegant, meditative, and uplifting piece of art that is as close to perfect as a film can get.