In Wim Wender’s last movie, “Perfect Days”, the shades are alive, dancing with the trees at the rhythm of cassette songs.
Every day when Hirayama, the main character, of “Perfect Days,” is on his way, he chooses one cassette with the perfect song for the day, a song that synchronizes not only with the mood of the day, but also with the sky. Footage of the sun arising or leaving the day, while melting in the streets of Tokyo flowing with songs by Patty Smith, Lou Reed, or Sachiko Kuninobu.
Words are barely needed, the first dialogue made by the main character is listened after 12 minutes of the movie. I would say, the most important way of communication in “Perfect Days” is the soundly exploration of the images naturally flowing. In this movie each song is a living character giving a synchronized tone to the different moods. It is as if sound were part of photosynthesis.
Here is a selection of my favorite song-scenes that are now printed in my memory forever:
TRACK # 1: “THE HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN” BY THE ANIMALS.
A song to call the sun. Hirayama does not play this song as soon as he leaves home, he is patient as nature’s flow. Hirayama takes his time and plays this song in the precise moment when he takes the Tokyo Expressway and looks up in search of the sun through the rearview mirror.
TRACK # 2: “REDONDO BEACH” BY PATTI SMITH
A song to respectfully listen. Randomly, Hirayama meets Aya, who also enjoys the quality time of listening. There is some feeling of beautiful uncertainty along the movie. A tic-tac-toe round without knowing who with and making photos to the shining leaves without looking through the viewfinder.
TRACK # 3: “AOI SAKANA (BLUE FISH)” BY SANCHIKO KANENOBU
Hirayama is a tree person. He collects weeds in pocket pots to then plant these at home under the violet light. You can see it in the corner window, as a screen’s witness.
TRACK # 4: “PERFECT DAY” BY LOU REED
Music to listen under the shade of a tree. Hirayama enjoys the simplicity and dreams about shapes made between the trees and the shadows. As the song says, you are going to reap just what you sow. Believe me, you are going to connect deeply with your feelings while listening and watching this scene. Well… with some others too!
TRACK # 5: “BROWN EYED GIRL” BY VAN MORRISON
A song to listen inside a car in middle of a rainy day. Conversations about different universes, tree-friends, and time-lessons. Hirayama’s niece, Niko, also enjoys observing while questioning her uncle. The only two times when Hirayama uses his camera’s viewfinder is when portrait her along the tree-friend. An analogue lifestyle teaching how to save the happy memories.
TRACK # 6: “FEELLING GOOD” BY NINA SIMONE
I’m just going to say: this song is the movie! A song to wake up and look at the sun to get the energy and bloom.
Now, a moment of movies and fashion: Did you know that Wim Wenders, the director of this movie is one of the biggest admirers of Yohji Yamamoto’s design work?
He not only walked the runway for Yamamoto’s most recent show at Paris Fashion Week, but also created “Notebook on Cities and Clothes”, a documentary about the Japanese designer.
You can watch Perfect Days through Prime , Apple tv, or your go to movie-platform. If you've already watched it, what do you liked the most about this movie?