★★★★★ 5
Beautiful & Deeply Moving
Not many films have ever moved me to tears, but PERFECT DAYS somehow did. That is not because of any sadness or sentimentality in the film, but because of its almost miraculous way of trespassing into truth: PERFECT DAYS somehow manages to touch the hem of truth in our experience of life. Here we have shifting reflections of humanity's pendulum of thought and emotion, an approximation of truth in light of the existential dilemma of purpose and meaning. However, this dimension of the film is not underscored, but ever gently suggested until the ending's catharsis. It is a philosophical film without any real mention of philosophy, but with an impact that hits the soul.
If you're a Wim Wenders fan, PERFECT DAYS is basic viewing. If you know Koji Yakusho—among Japan's most illustrious actors, who gives an astonishing performance here, the kind that's one for the ages—you know this is essential viewing. If you know neither, it's worth introducing yourself to them.
I suppose at its simplest, PERFECT DAYS is a demonstration of how an older man, Hirayama, has discovered a life that can be well lived. It may not be my choice of a life or yours, but its possibility implies that we can all find the life that brings us peace and self-fulfillment, even if it's unconventional or not the easiest of lives. There are charming and sometimes humorous elements in the depiction of Hirayama's life, and as we learn about him—a "lesson" that, to me, was continually interesting—we're treated to Tokyo and various secondary characters who are distinctive and seem very real, indeed. And the more the film opens up to include those other characters, the more we learn about Hirayama, every tiny detail almost like a little gem.
Those who need lots of physical/plot action in movies may not be able to stick with Wenders' film long enough to see its strengths and feel its overwhelming power. But if you're a gracious enough filmgoer, and patient, you will be well paid for your time and effort by the perfect end of PERFECT DAYS.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2024
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