Perfect Days (2024)

“Perfect Days” delves into the quiet complexities of life through the lens of Hirayama, an unassuming toilet cleaner in Tokyo. While his days unfold in a meticulously structured routine of cleaning high-end public facilities and meticulously curated cassette tapes, beneath the surface lies a world of unspoken emotions and a past shrouded in mystery. Unexpected encounters chip away at his carefully constructed tranquility, revealing snippets of a life once passionate and adventurous. 

The film unfolds as a series of vignettes, each encounter subtly revealing facets of Hirayama’s past and present. We meet Niko, a young woman grappling with her own uncertainties, and Aya, a former colleague harboring regrets. Through their interactions, Hirayama’s own desires and missed opportunities resurface. “Perfect Days” avoids dramatic plot twists, instead focusing on the poignant beauty of everyday moments and the quiet contemplation of life’s journey. It subtly examines themes of loneliness, societal expectations, and the search for meaning amidst the mundane. 

This introspective film invites viewers to appreciate the hidden depths within seemingly ordinary lives, prompting reflection on personal choices and the quiet victories found in finding solace within oneself.