i cannot stop thinking about perfect days (2023)
i loved perfect days so much and i think it may become one of my favourite films of all time. it has truly left such a profound impact on me. i think the thing i take away most from the film is the importance of slowing down and taking in every moment. life often flashes by so quickly and we feel like we are grasping at any chance for happiness and joy as a lot of us spend most of our days working or studying. we can often feel like our lives are boring because nothing exciting is happening.
the main character in perfect days, hirayama, has a minimum wage job cleaning public toilets. yet, he still manages to walk out the door everyday with a smile on his life. we see him staring at the sky, at the trees, at random people; he is always taking in the beauty of the world, noticing things that the average person may not, like, the way the sun shines through the leaves of a tree.
hirayama lives alone, doesn't have a partner or many close friends. he has people he encounters throughout the film, but they never really stick. they are often just fleeting acquaintances. many people who've seen the film have debated whether hirayama is truly happy or not. i think he is just an ordinary human who experiences both happiness and sadness.
we see him cry as his niece who briefly visited him leaves with her mother. we can see that he isn't close with his family as they hardly ever see or talk to each other. i think his tears here are a moment of rare vulnerability. he loved having the company of his niece, and now she's gone just like that, and he's alone once again.
however, i think what we can learn from hirayama is how to find moments of happiness amongst all the sadness. you can read a great book, listen to your favourite song, or eat a delicious meal. life can often be heavy and difficult, but if we just appreciate our favourite things every day, i think life will be a little bit easier.
