Perfect Days

German master Wim Wenders – director of Wings of Desire and Paris, Texas – has always maintained a fascination with Japan and he creates something truly wonderful in his latest. In this Oscar-nominated Cannes prize winner, he follows cleaner Hirayama (Kôji Yakusho) as he maintains Tokyo’s stylish public toilets alongside haphazard co-worker Akashi (Tokyo Emote). During his working routine, strangers, family and friends gather, drawn to the graceful way he moves through the city.

What begins as a gentle portrait of daily life slowly builds into a powerful study of the humanity hiding within us all. Beautifully soundtracked with tracks from Patti Smith, Nina Simone and Lou Reed, this is a terrific return to form for Wenders.