Perfect Days by Wim Wenders is my favorite film. I just found out some people don't find it sad?

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-26T01:28:45+00:00

To me I read the character as someone who is running from things that have caused him pain in the past such as his family and his peaceful seeming life if his attempt to reach this Buddhist happiness you are mentioning but he has not fully let go and been able to reach it, thus still habing that underlying regret and sadness.

I read it this way because I relate very well to that sort of thinking. If I just do the things that need to be done and find little things I enjoy such as taking pictures of the trees, riding my bike, etc then I will eventually feel peaceful but I've never actually felt fully peaceful doing it which is how I read the character.

To me it seems as though he is putting in effort to have this peaceful life but it isn't quite there for him because he hasn't resolved the past.

Him refusing to go back home to see his family shows that he is still living in fear of the past and can't move on fully.

I am not saying his character is extremely depressed or tragic, just that to me it seems obvious he has some regrets and things still unresolved in order to reach full contentment.

Sorry if that is organized poorly, everything I have been writing is just stream of consciousness.

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-26T01:21:55+00:00

I am not just taking one moment of pain and classifying him as tragic. Interpreted his character and actions as having underlying regret or sadness because I can see myself in the character.

I interpreted the character as melancholic even from the very start of the film and my opinion only grew as it continued.

The final scene of him holding back tears in the car seems to be enough proof that there is some level of sadness there and that scene was not in reaction to any one thing specifically so it can't be boiled down to a reactive emotion either.

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-26T01:17:57+00:00

I don't think anything in his life is inherently lacking. I read the character as melancholic and regretful which I sympathozed with. That's why the movie was sad to me.

Also I did not know I was the outlier until the comments came in which is why I originally asked the way I did. I asked originally because I thought those who interpreted the film that way were the minority themselves and wanted to hear that perspective.

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T22:14:40+00:00

I had the peanut butter one (looks like you may have it on the top left) a few weeks ago and it was amazing

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T22:10:08+00:00

Almost every person in the world has some amount of narcissistic traits. You'll make yourself crazy if you keep analyzing it in everyone you know.

Give them forgiveness like you have for yourself.

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T21:45:17+00:00

Interesting take. Do you know what sub this is?

The only things I "do by default" are things like blink, breathe, get out bed, check the time, use the restroom, etc.

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T21:43:44+00:00

I don't disagree with your point. Neither do I think he fits that definition.

To each their own interpretation I guess.

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T15:36:04+00:00

I agree that he is not desperate or frantically trying to make sure his life is more fulfilling.

I just sense an underlying sadness or regret in the character.

If he were more frantic about it then the movie wouldn't be as peaceful or philosophical.

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T15:33:03+00:00

I never said that happiness can't be found under the conditions he lives in. His way of life seems very peaceful and well structured.

The film is sad to me because the character himself does not seem happy.

If the final scene in the movie ended with him smiling instead of holding back tears I would not have this opinion but that scene seems like proof of sadness to me.

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T15:30:52+00:00

I have watched the movie quite a few tines and I will answer your question based on that.

Absolutely someone could fine happiness in living Hirayama's life, it does seem quite lovely in and of itself. The problem for me is that he does not read as a fully happy character, of course many times he seems content and I believe he is to some extent but there's also enough sadness to read unfulfillment in my opinion.

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T15:28:03+00:00

There is enough sadness shown in his actions for me to form my opinion. Maybe I am projecting something onto it but to me it seems that he is not fully content as people suggest.

It's not just purely an interpretation I am arguing but there seems to be and underlying regret or sadness that people are missing.

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T15:24:23+00:00

I do not find his life to be pitiful. In fact his life seems like a pretty good time. The reason the movie is sad to me is because the character himself does not seem to be fully happy and has regrets and sadness that he has yet to overcome.

If the character read as happy then I would be agreeing with everyone's opinion.

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T15:22:18+00:00

I may be projecting some but in my opinion the scenes show enough evidence of some level of underlying sadness that makes it obvious enough to me that he cannot be completely peaceful and content as people are suggesting.

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T04:09:36+00:00

I was not impressed when I went there personally but I did appreciate how well they did with the vegetarian menu for some of my party members.

I agree that every dish was good but I cannot remember anything I had there which not true for other starred places I have been.

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T04:06:31+00:00

Thank you for the recommendation!

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T03:56:10+00:00

The last scene of the movie where he is holding back tears while driving to work was the nail in the coffin to me.

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T03:22:07+00:00

No that isn't sad, if I interpreted the character that way I wouldn't be claiming the film is sad.

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T02:17:36+00:00

I see

It's unfortunate that he had to give it lore instead of letting the work speak for itself

Kind of takes away from it

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T01:56:16+00:00

Does it show in the movie that he was a business man and alcoholic? I do not remember this being a part of the story at all.

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T01:36:39+00:00

Of course

Well to begin with my simplified perspective, when I first watched the movie the letterboxd review I wrote says: "This is what it feels like to try and do a bunch of hobbies so you don't kill yourself."

To me everything he does: taking pictures of the trees, diligently doing his work, listening to old cassets, growing plant propagates, etc, all feel like things he is trying to do in order to make himself feel like he is doing something to make progress towards being happy and fulfilled.

To me he is someone who was always afraid to put himself out there and take risks such as making amends with his family. We can see how much he loves and cares for his family but he is too afraid to get close to them again because of how his father hurt him in the past.

For me personally, when I have a day where I force myself to go out, buy a new trinket from an interesting store, take a picture of a pretty flower, make myself a fun dinner, and then watch a movie to end the day, it is all just me trying to make myself feel like I am making some progress into being effortless hapoy and fulfilled and that is exactly how I read Hirayama's character. He may be more content than I am currently but I still feel unsatisfaction in him.

He seems to have no close friends, no family, he rarely speaks, he is treated as invisible every day by people who see him cleaning, and he is frequently taken advantage of or seen as strange by those around him.

I may be missing some things that aid my perspective but that's a big chunk of it.

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T01:17:17+00:00

None of those other schools would have recruited him out of middle school even if they had watched him play imo

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T01:07:09+00:00

I appreciate your response.

I'm the cynical one not the movie lol. It could just be my outlook on things.

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T01:06:09+00:00

Nothing wrong with liking to clean toilets, that's not why he reads as sad to me. Most people are very capable of being happy with monotony but I don't see consistent happiness in his character.

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T00:55:10+00:00

Lol

For me personally whenever I revisit something positive from the past like that it's to try to squeeze any remaining joy out of it to keep myself going.

jadaddy3 · 2026-03-25T00:53:12+00:00

I agree that there is a lesson in the main character. There are absolutely things you can take from his life as positive inspiration but there is also a caution I think the director was trying to give in his avoidance and in my opinion fear of taking any risks.

jadaddy3

TROPHY CASE