The art of crying on camera
Light spoilers for 'Perfect Days'
This week I saw Wim Wenders’ new film Perfect Days, a slight, sweet slice of life movie about a guy just trying to make it through the day, with all the hardship and beauty that entails. Kōji Yakusho plays Hirayama, a man whose job is cleaning public toilets all over Tokyo. Despite the perceived lowness of his job, Hirayama takes great pride in it (and Wenders, with the help of cinematographer Franz Lustig, renders those bathrooms with a loving touch). His life plays out through routine, but his days are never monotonous – he finds peace in music, beauty in trees, and little surprises from the people he meets everyday.