2023 (JAPAN) 125 minutes
Directed by: Wim Wenders
Kõji Yakusho mesmerizes as Hirayama, a contented middle aged man living a structured life as a Tokyo toilet cleaner in Wim Wenders’ poetic and contemplative new film. The drama weaves together short stories that reveal how Hirayama’s deep passion for music, books, and tree photography enriches his daily routine.
As the film elegantly unfolds, unexpected encounters add detail to the façade of Hirayama’s generosity and simplicity. Wenders’ delicate filmmaking captures Tokyo’s essence through carefully framed shots, enhancing the viewer’s connection with the city. Music, mainly 1960s pop, becomes a narrative thread, reflecting Hirayama’s emotional state. His moods resonate with classics from Nina Simone and Van Morrison, the Animals’ “House of the Rising Sun,” and even Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day.” It’s impossible not to be engrossed by Yakusho’s captivating, subtle, and passionate performance, for which he won the Best Actor award at this year’s Cannes, where the film also deservedly won the Ecumenical Jury Prize.
2023 Telluride Film Festival
2023 New York Film Festival
2023 Cannes Film Festival – Best Actor – Ecumenical Jury Prize
Official Selection from Japan in the Best International Feature Film category for the 2024 Academy Awards.
Incline Village Cinema – December 1 – 8:15pm