7.8
Hirayama is content with his life as a toilet cleaner in Tokyo. Outside of his structured routine, he cherishes music on cassette tapes, books, and taking photos of trees. Through unexpected encounters, he reflects on finding beauty in the world.
Koji Yakusho
Hirayama
Tokio Emoto
Takashi
Arisa Nakano
Niko
Aoi Yamada
Aya
Yumi Asou
Keiko
Sayuri Ishikawa
Mama
Tomokazu Miura
Tomoyama
Min Tanaka
Homeless
Miyako Tanaka
Old Lady with Brush
Ron Mizuma
Businessman
Soraji Shibuya
Kid
Aoi Iwasaki
Kid
Kisuke Shimazaki
Lost Boy
Yuriko Kawasaki
Mother
Aki Kobayashi
Baby
Bunmei Harada
Priest
Reina
Tourist
Shunsuke Miura
Bath House Owner
Gan Furukawa
Old Man
Atsushi Fukazawa
Kat-Chan
Taijirō Tamura
Regular
Masahiro Koumoto
Bar Owner
Makiko Okamoto
Old Woman
Daigo Matsui
Vinyl Store Staff
Nao Takahashi
Customer
Nari Saitô
Customer
Hiroto Oshita
Customer
Naoko Ken
Cat Lady
Mijika Nagai
Office Lady
Motomi Makiguchi
Old Local
Isao Matsui
Old Local
Aoi Yoshida
Dera-Chan
Motoyuki Shibata
DPE Owner
Inuko Inuyama
Bookstore Owner
Moro Morooka
Bar Regular
Morio Agata
Bar Regular
Nijika Tonouchi
High School Girl
Yasushi Okuwa
Keiko's Driver
Hairi Katagiri
Voice on Phone (voice)
Tateto Serizawa
Taxi Driver
Yoneko Matsukane
Parking Officer
Tamae Ando
Sato
Director, Screenplay
Wim Wenders
Screenplay
Takuma Takasaki
March 4, 2024
10
Coproduction between Japan and Germany, directed by the german director Wim Wenders (Texas Paris, Wings of Desire among others) and written by him and Takuma Takashi.
It won the Cannes Film Festival 2023 for Best Actor and Ecumenical Jury and it is nominated for Academy Best Foreign Movie (my favorite for this category).
It tells some days at the life of a public bathroom cleaner at Tokyo, interpreted by Koji Yakusho Hirayama, as Hirayama, his daily routine and 4 events in between his usual days. It also shows how some people treat those invisible workers even in a modern civilized country as Japan.
Hirayama have a simple, but happy life as he is and what his does with the maximum commitment - it is a marvelou movie about contemplation and what simple things and events can bring of happiness in the life, if you allow it.
The cinematography is by Franz Lustig (Anselm), and it is beautiful in using the available light and daily variations, mostly in shots with the protagonist.
With a slow minimalistic story focused on this philosophy and camera work also directed to the architecture of public bathrooms, it may not be a movie for everyone.
My score for it is 9,6 out of 10,0 / A+.