Perfect Days director Wim Wenders: 'Nostalgia is of no use to anyone'
Wim Wenders, the director of Perfect Days, which was one of the five Oscar nominees for Best International Feature Film this year and premiered on MUBI this month, shared his thoughts on the film. Wenders stated, "I don't think nostalgia is the right emotion; I don't think it's of any use to anyone."
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Stating that the film process began with an invitation from Japan, Wim Wenders said, "I had missed Japan, and then came this wonderful invitation to look at an art project by 15 architects who were building their own amazing little toilets."
Continuing his remarks, Wenders said, "Normally they build banks, stadiums, and high-rise buildings. Now they were building the smallest thing: public toilets. So the invitation was for me to come and see, and to see if it would inspire me to perhaps make a series of films about the toilets and the architects."
'POST-PANDEMIC...'
The famous director, saying he realized there was a much bigger story behind this, explained, "Instead of making four little stories about the toilets and their creators, I realized I could make a film about Japanese culture, where these toilets play a different role, and then about other cultures. It's about our age, and even more so about this post-pandemic period we are living in..."
Wenders, in response to the question, "Time is also an important concept in the film 'Perfect Days', isn't it?" replied, "I don't think nostalgia is the right emotion; I don't think it's of any use to anyone. Remembering the good old days is not positive; on the contrary, it is a negative approach." (Milliyet)
THE PLOT OF PERFECT DAYS
Inspired by a real urban renewal project called "The Tokyo Toilet," the film takes its name from Lou Reed's classic song "Perfect Day."
The film focuses on Hirayama, a middle-aged man who lives a humble and serene life, works as a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo, and is strictly attached to his routines.
Hirayama's peaceful and happy daily life, which he spends pursuing his passion for music, literature, and photography, begins to be disrupted when his estranged sister Keiko's teenage daughter, Niko, suddenly shows up at his door.
Unexpected encounters that lead Hirayama to reconnect with his past begin to slowly reveal the secret history behind his happy life.