Perfect Days: Philosophical Analysis

In today’s video, a brief philosophical reflection in the film “Perfect Days”, by Wim Wenders.

Thanks for watching,

Julian

#perfectdays #movies #art #minimalism

[asfarkhan]

The film was so soothing, centered around the joy of little things, the appreciating of beauty that goes unnoticed and doing things for their own sake. I loved it and loved your analysis of it. In fact, I came to know of it through your video and came back here after I watched the movie. Lots of thanks!!

[ndafyst]

I work nights in sanitation and spend most of my time alone, so this movie felt familiar to me. One bit you left out was the interaction beneath the bridge. I think both men were contemplating suicide. When they talk about darkness overlapping each other, I think the cleaner struggles with the fact that his body wont cause any ripples when he expires. When they play shadow tag, it's a bit like two doomed men making a connection. Trees get peed on, pooed on, they put up with pollution and noise. Yet they continuously give us oxygen, they offer a home to the birds and a playground for the squirrels. They are the definition of unconditional love.

Collection books, cassettes and photos are a way of non-conforming, escape and they give him a sense of control. Cleaning is control. Cleaning is a form of chaos, reverse chaos.

[albertoleiva]

Great analysis. This movie is certainly worth analyzing from a psychological point of view.
I liked the focus of the character enjoying the details of life, but I also felt that it was a way to forget or overcome an event from the past that led him to this point.

[Nerdzombiedisco]

The main character’s backstory, is he came from wealth but had a falling out with his father…so he was able to make his own wealth…but one of internal happiness. He also extends love and nonjudgmental behavior. Takes photos to remind him of moments. Next Time is next time. Now is now. …he is broken and yet unbroken at the end. Perfect days is perfect.

[garyisaacs]

"One must imagine Sisyphus happy" Camus

[zaynabkdouh]

What's even more beautiful than the film..is your way of interpretation of every little detail which makes me believe that you have what the character has. I found myself asking.. why was he taking pictures like this and waiting to see how they came out.. why don't he look through the lens and take the picture as he wants it to be? Also, when he cried after he saw his sister, I wished I knew more, I started asking" why are you crying!?" But your perspective on this movie made me love it even more

[alwaleedfahad]

one of the best analysis i have seen on the internet, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts about this movie

[saromagic]

Enjoyed this analysis! I watched the film and it felt to me like the main character probably has a harsh father with high expectations and he separated himself from his rich family for good because of his differences, so he bears guilt and shame. He is probably on the autistic spectrum which is why he is introverted and sensitive to his surroundings. That's why control and order are important to him and why he can only gain that perfect control at home - in his own world. That could also perhaps explain why he seems to have a child-like mindset forever as he connects with children easily and tries to comfort the restaurant owner's ex-husband with a kid's game. And at the end, the main character cries in his car, he's probably thinking about his dying father and himself perhaps dying alone one day. The prettier the view, the stronger the sadness, that all because of sacrificing for that beautiful moment, he has no one to share it with and will one day leave the world alone. So existential crisis.

[hk]

Hirayama is a dream facilitator for those around him.

[davidvalero]

I really enjoyed that movie: the acting performances, the tokyo planes, the modern bathrooms, the soundtrack, the way in which time and repetition was portrayed as you said, etc.
Love the way the movie doesn't exactly praise that lifestyle (nor condemns it) and that is also possible, valid, normal to renounce to the imposed pursuit of success or progress in the hierarchy scale.
He is a failure but who isn't? Anyway, love asian movies. Regards from Bogotá.

[KJ-]

What a thoughtful analysis, very inspired and thorough. Perfect days is such a beautiful film. You touched on many of the philosophical underpinnings and nuanced meanings that make this film so powerful. Happy to discover your channel. Bravo!

[sheilinteo]

Just starting to listen now, and want to say how glad I was to see you’d made a video about this very beautiful film!

[kaljic]

I totally agreed. The main character is completely centered and living in the present here and now.

[EmrecanAlptekin]

Nice comments. Yet, I would like to say, it was sunrise, not the sunset at the end of movie, that, for me, represents rise of "another day", resembles as a regularity. Signification of in significant is a keyword of this movie from my point of view.

Another detail was the watch, that he was not wearing during the workdays, but only on of days.

Lastly, I believe there was something about dreams, yet I could not figured it out; waiting for the second watch to reveal.

Thanks for the video.

[Ericbymel]

Thank you very much! I appreciate your insights indeed. I would like to add that the hero deals with death and dying in three scenes: first with his sister who tells him of their father who is deteriorating. Then the scene with the old man who cannot recall what used to be on that building site and says that getting old is awful. Last is the meeting with the cancer patient. The movie is stunning, and for me, these three instances add another deep dimension to the already profound story.

[umdogthereal]

I found this film very moving as well. Great analysis as always!

[tsuyoikuma]

In my opinion, the sister scene gave us a little bit of background of the main character. If you noticed, when the sister said that is he really a toilet cleaner... perhaps the main character had a different job, maybe he had a higher economic position like her sister and he left that way of life. He realized that money does not mean that will give him happiness. I still wonder what happened with the relationship with his dad, that does not want to confront him...

[nimyeg]

This gave me a great flashback to my art school lectures. Great warm feeling. Thank you friend, lovely analysis.

[timothycrespin]

This is one of my new favourite movies

[gregorbingham]

Thank you for continuing your work and enriching my life with your thoughts and reflections. This was a lovely movie, and this is a lovely and deep reflection, thank you. I think you are reminding me also of Dogen's words: Enlightenment is practice, and practice is enlightenment (and enlightenment isn't special).