B Movies Blog

Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping Wim Wenders’s Perfect Days into the ol’ VCR. 

After several days of not being able to make the showtimes work, I finally caught a screening of Perfect Days.

I can’t speak highly enough of the latest from Wim Wenders. 

This movie gripped me from start to finish and more than earned a spot in my favorite movies of the year thus far. 

Perfect Days is all about appreciating the beauty in life’s fleeting moments as well as not taking chance encounters for granted. 

I said this on Instagram, but if I had to choose one word to describe this movie, it would be “beautiful.” Every simple moment is captivating, and that’s the entire point. 

Additionally, the soundtrack is INCREDIBLE, and I’m not just saying that because it has one of my favorite songs of all time in it, aka “Pale Blue Eyes” by The Velvet Underground. 

This movie also really touched me because Hirayama (Koji Yakusho) reminds me so much of KP. She was the kind of person who would give you her last dollar or the shirt off her back, and she would try to find the beauty in everything and everyone. 

I have a theory about this film as well. Now, this may be one of those times I feel like I’m interpreting things differently…but it turns out that’s what the filmmaker meant. And, y’know, the point of the movie. 

Fair warning, I’m going to have to spoil the ending, so skip down to the paragraph starting with “I truly” if you want to avoid spoilers. 

Ready?

Okay. 

Towards the end of the film, when Hirayama’s sister (Yumi Aso) comes to pick Niko (Arisa Nakano), it’s revealed (or, at least, alluded to) that Hirayama’s family is wealthy. We also learn that his father is suffering from some form of degenerative disorder, like Alzheimer’s or dementia, and that his personality changed. 

We can infer from this interaction that Hirayama’s father was not only abusive, but that he also chose to live a simple life. 

This leads me to my theory…and it’s really sad. 

I believe Hirayama lives in the moment and takes daily photos for one of two reasons: 

1. He is starting to fall victim to the same illness as his father. 
2. He wants to have these photos and memories IF he does fall victim to the same illness as his father. 

I fear that it’s more likely the first option for a couple of reasons.

To support my theory, I present to you my findings…

Firstly, he doesn’t remember giving Niko a camera just like his when she was younger. 

Secondly, I think the black and white images we see at night could be interpreted as memories starting to fail and/or Hiroyama struggling to hold on to the day’s memories. They might also just be dreams though 🤷‍♀️

Lastly, I think the final scene is extremely telling. We watch Hiroyama trying to keep smiling and not cry as Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” plays on. He’s fighting so hard to keep seeing the positive while not allowing anything negative to creep in. 

TL;DR: he knows what’s coming, and after the encounter with Mama’s ex-husband, his own mortality is hitting him hard. 

I TOLD YOU IT WAS SAD. 

I digress.

I truly can’t recommend this movie enough. It’s moving, heartfelt, and, at times, really funny. If you need a reminder to stop and smell the roses, Perfect Days is your sign.