During the second week of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival the sun came out, after torrential rain. The chirping of seagulls mixed with the loud music on the red carpet. On the terrace of the “Palais”, Wim Wenders was waiting for us calmly. Dark suit, satisfied expression: his Perfect Days was among the most popular titles in competition elActor Koji Yakusho won the award for best actor.
The film focuses on Hirayama, a sixty-year-old Japanese man who cleans public toilets. He pays attention to details, loves listening to his audio cassettes, follows a precise routine. He hardly talks to anyone, until he has a special meeting.
«I love rock’n’roll, rhythm, it’s my lifestyle. There are many moments of melancholy, but we must focus on happiness. And about change. We must know how to listen to each other, improve, and above all thank for what we have. Tomorrow is uncertain and may not be bright. So you have to seize the moment, be passionate about the little things. Words, like silences, have a profound value, not to be overlooked. We believe we are masters of a society based on accumulation: thus we risk ignoring the nuances, which are wonderful”, explains Wenders.
So what’s the key?
«Do not focus on what we do not possess, but smile at what we can embrace, touch. Like the protagonist, I still use audio cassettes. I like walking listening to music, in Tokyo or in any city I find myself. Once upon a time it was cutting-edge technology, now unfortunately it’s all online. Each song is a letter that speaks to our souls, asking to be chosen and indulged. This doesn’t mean that I hope for a return to the past, but what was still has its charm and can teach us a lot.”
Is this also why Hirayama often chooses silence?
«He found the balance, and that’s what we should do too. He knows how to express himself and when to do it. Only through peace, quiet, are we able to reflect on ourselves. The noise stuns and doesn’t allow you to move forward.”
What should your “perfect day” look like?
«It was yesterday, it is today and it will be tomorrow. I get up early, watch the sunrise, immerse myself in the cinema. I am undisciplined, but I feel the need for a routine that can amaze me. I adapt my habits to the situation I am in. I try to go beyond appearance, to dig, to analyze new meanings. I study cities, I grasp the mutations. I pay attention to the feelings and emotions of those I meet. We are in a complex era, we must help each other. Every day is different from the other, but even if they were all the same we should always pursue perfection. And that perfection can only be achieved by focusing on what is “invisible”.
Who are you referring to?
«To the homeless, to those who have less. They live in the streets, they turn to us with sad, lifeless eyes. It is our job not to ignore them. They slept near public toilets, where we often hung out. I stopped to talk to them, they told me their story. There are many broken dreams, broken horizons. One of them in particular was a beautiful man, he had been a dancer. He moved gracefully among the trees, he had an uncommon way of walking. We often think they are dirty, but that’s not the case. In Japan they wash themselves in public toilets and also make sure they remain in good condition. Our mistake is to ignore them. In Los Angeles among them I met a university professor. Sometimes existence follows mysterious paths and leads to living on the streets. But we must never forget respect.”
What do you think about the future?
«I am a convinced optimist. With pessimism we destroy and not build. Every moment is precious. There can be no room for hatred, for rejection. It is important to have time for our passions, to enrich the spirit. I’m a collector, I keep everything: books, colored stones… When I moved, I had to throw away a lot of things. But I walked away from it with a smile, because we shouldn’t get attached to what is concrete.”
