The purpose in life is to train, not to suffer and melt, but to rejoice in the simple things and live happiness by appreciating the little. We must not forget that joy is not offered to us by objects, joy lives and breathes within us and seeks an occasion to explode within us.
Hirayama in “Wonderful Days”, works in the public toilets of Tokyo, making sure they are clean. He lives his life in a repetitive ritual pattern every day starting at dawn. He divides the time he has left from his work into his love of music, which he listens to in his van on the way to and from work, and books. Hiriyama listens to songs from his cassette tape collection from his extensive rock ‘n’ roll library. From Otis Redding to Patti Smith and from Nina Simone to Lou Reed. Our hero also loves his books, in which he gets lost just before the weariness of the day takes him in her arms. He still devotes his free time to gardening, taking care of and photographing the tree, its branches and leaves.
Takashi Hirayama’s assistant is a bit frivolous, careless and always at his own pace. A young woman Aya, at some point, meets Hirayama’s young assistant and they start going out, usually using the work van, Hirayama out of sympathy finances the young people’s outings.
But the cleaner himself exchanged messages and glances with a woman eating lunch in a park. Aya and Hirayama meet to return a tape and the young woman gives our hero a tender kiss which he finds unexpected and touching. All this happens while in his free time we see Hirayama washing his clothes, taking pictures of his tree, cleaning his apartment, buying a new book before his niece Niko suddenly appears in front of him and has beaten her from his rich estranged sister’s house. He lets Niko accompany him to work for the next two days. The two take pictures of the trees in the park and ride bikes together. Finally, Keiko comes to pick up Niko in a chauffeured car. Keiko can’t believe her brother is a public toilet cleaner and asks him to visit their father, who is sick. He refuses, but hugs his sister. As they leave, Hirayama begins to cry inconsolably.
Besides, as he says at some point
-The world consists of many worlds. Some connect, some don’t.
Takashi fires her without explanation, and a misunderstanding at the famous restaurant drives Hirayama to despair just before the necessary explanations are given and things get back on track.
Hirayama listens to Nina Simone sing Feeling Good as he starts a new week driving his truck on the way to work, his expression alternating between unbridled joy and unbridled sadness.
Wonderful Days is a 2023 drama film full of lyricism directed by 77-year-old Wim Wenders (Wings of Love, Paris, Texas, An American Friend), from a screenplay written by the director himself and Takuma Takasaki. A co-production between Japan and Germany, the film combines four short stories and stars Koji Yakusho. The film won the prize of the Universal Committee and the male role (Koji Yakuso) at the festival of Cannes.
“Wonderful Days” centers on a seemingly everyday protagonist played with quiet grace and tenderness by Koji Yakuso. His daily routine, meticulously captured through Wenders’ lens, becomes a canvas on which the essence of life’s simplicity is painted. Through his interactions and encounters, a rich mosaic of human emotions and bonds emerges, highlighting the transformative power of human contact. The theme of the film is the celebration of the ordinary. The protagonist’s love of photographing trees, listening to music, and immersing himself in literature serves as a metaphor for finding solace and meaning in the seemingly mundane aspects of life.
Wenders’ directorial mastery returns to the level of his great films and imbues each frame with a sense of calm contemplation, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the protagonist’s world. From the subtle play of light and shadow to the serene landscapes captured by the camera, every visual element contributes to the film’s meditative atmosphere. The protagonist’s encounters play a central role in the narrative. Through these chance encounters, the film explores the complexities of human relationships and the profound impact of even the briefest of interactions. Each character, however fleeting in appearance, leaves a lasting impression, highlighting the interconnectedness of all individuals in the mosaic of life.
“Wonderful Days” taps into the universal longing for human contact and the transformative power of genuine connection between people. Whether through a simple moment of laughter or a silent exchange of glances, Wenders captures the nuances of human emotion, reminding us of the beauty inherent in the simplest of gestures.
In a world often characterized by unbridled chaos, constant stress and repetitive noise, “Wonderful Days” reminds us that every now and then we need to pause, breathe and appreciate the simple joys that surround us every day and that most days we pass them by without glancing at them, without giving them an iota of attention. Because only a new beginning or a new look at old things can give us joy in life.
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