Perfect Days
A meticulous Tokyo toilet cleaner discovers quiet transcendence in routine, solitude, music, and fleeting human connection.
Overview
A quiet life of simplicity reveals profound truths about existence.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Subtle
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- meditative
- gentle
- wistful
- quiet evening
- reflective weekend
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an absorbing and quietly soaring slice-of-life drama, especially highlighting Kōji Yakusho's deeply expressive performance and Wim Wenders' humane direction.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Hirayama's cleaning shifts, coffee, baths, reading, cassette listening, and tree photography form the film's recurring dramatic rhythm.
Hirayama repeatedly photographs trees and observes the patterns of sunlight and shadow in Tokyo's urban spaces.
The protagonist approaches public toilet cleaning with meticulous care while the film observes how invisible workers are treated.
Hirayama's rich inner life is conveyed largely through his routines, glances, music, and sparse dialogue.
Films like Perfect Days, and why
Paterson
quiet slice-of-life drama centered on routine, solitude, and finding meaning in ordinary work
A Man Escaped
meditative character study using daily rituals, understated emotion, and careful observation of working-class life
Still Walking
contemplative japanese drama about family, social roles, emotional restraint, and the beauty of everyday experience
Movie Details
- Director
- Wim Wenders
- Release Date
- 2023-11-10
- Runtime
- 124 min
- Rating
- 7.8 / 10 (2082)
Cast
- Koji Yakusho
- Tokio Emoto
- Arisa Nakano
- Aoi Yamada
- Yumi Aso
- Sayuri Ishikawa
- Tomokazu Miura
- Min Tanaka
- Miyako Tanaka
- Ron Mizuma
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Perfect Days about?
- A meticulous Tokyo toilet cleaner discovers quiet transcendence in routine, solitude, music, and fleeting human connection.
- What is Perfect Days like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Perfect Days as measured, its intensity as subtle and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Perfect Days violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Perfect Days.
- What did critics think of Perfect Days?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an absorbing and quietly soaring slice-of-life drama, especially highlighting Kōji Yakusho's deeply expressive performance and Wim Wenders' humane direction.
- Which films are like Perfect Days?
- Films with a similar feel include Paterson, A Man Escaped, and Still Walking.
- How long is Perfect Days?
- Perfect Days runs 124 minutes.
- Where can I watch Perfect Days?
- In United States, Perfect Days is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
