‘Perfect Days’ Criterion Collection 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review – A Sublime & Patient Exploration Of Humanity

A perfect song that hits at just the right moment, the play of sunlight through leaves, a fleeting moment of human connection in a vast metropolis: the wonders of everyday life come into breath­taking focus in this profoundly moving film by Wim Wenders. In a radiant, Cannes-award-winning performance of few words but extraordinary expressiveness, Koji Yakusho plays a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo whose rich inner world is gradually revealed through his small exchanges with those around him and with the city itself. Channeling his idol Yasujiro Ozu, Wenders crafts a serenely minimalist ode to the miracle that is the here and now.

For in-depth thoughts on Perfect Days, please see my colleague Larry Fried’s review from its original release here. 

Video Quality

Perfect Days debuts on 4K UHD Blu-Ray from a 4K digital master in 1.33:1 with HDR10 courtesy of The Criterion Collection which showcases this film to perfection. The aesthetics are modest to mirror the experiences of our protagonist, but every unique locale has a world of color and texture to fall into. Director of Photography Franz Lustig wields a very patient camera that makes everyday spaces you might otherwise overlook appear with great beauty on this format. As Hirayama moves from restroom to restroom, you take in some rich texture in the locales, costumes, and production design. Skin tones likewise look natural with fine details such as perspiration and facial hair standing out. 

Colors are splendidly suffused thanks to the HDR10 presentation which captures the nuances within the hues. The movie has a glorious natural color palette which this transfer delivers with great authenticity. Nothing is artificially boosted, just keenly captured with precision. From the shadowy opening moments of dawn, you will notice the deep, inky blacks show no signs of compression artifacts or crush. Highlights are more stable with blooming never popping up as a problem. There are no signs of any digital nuisances throughout the runtime. The included Blu-Ray is in great shape, but the 4K UHD Blu-Ray does allow the film to achieve the ideal version of what it should be at home. Criterion has treated this with the utmost care and respect.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with an effective DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in the original Japanese with optional English subtitles. This is a fantastic audio presentation that does not stumble in the slightest. You will notice from the opening moments that this is a subtle, patient narrative that is not afraid to let silence embrace you like an old friend. The environmental sounds of the city and other such elements make this world feel three-dimensional. 

The track is more than just a wall of constant sound, as the creative team plays with meditative silence in really effective ways. Dialogue comes through crystal clear with no words ever overshadowed by a competing element. Low end response is not the goal here, but it adds some character to key moments. One of the most rewarding aspects of this audio track is the narratively important soundtrack which flows through the room in the surround speakers that maintain precise fidelity. Every element is crisply defined and never muddled or distorted in the slightest. Criterion has done a terrific job. 

Special Features

The Criterion 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Perfect Days includes a foldout booklet featuring the essay “Where The Light Comes Through” by writer Bilge Ebiri in which he provides a great amount of insight into and analysis of the film that helps highlight the deeper themes on display, the connections to other works from the creative, and more. The on-disc special features are as follows: 

• Wim Wenders: A 26-minute interview with the filmmaker in which he reflects on his relationship with Japan, what he got out of working in the country, developing Perfect Days out of an idea for a documentary, the facets of the main character, the importance of the music, and more. 

• Koji Yakusho: A nearly 15-minute interview with the performer in which he discusses his approach to filmmaking, how different he is from the characters he plays, his process of inhabiting Hirayama, how the character lingered with him after the camera stopped rolling, his desire to appear in films of substance, and more. 

• Koji Yanai: A nearly 10-minute interview with the producer in which he discusses how the film evolved from a documentary about public toilets, working with Wim Wenders, wanting to portray the servicemen with respect, and more. 

• Some Body Comes Into The Light: A nearly nine-minute short film featuring an interpretive dance piece from Min Tanaka shot during the production of Perfect Days. This can be viewed with an optional four-minute introduction in which Wenders discusses how the film came to be and working with the legendary Japanese performer. 

• Trailer: The nearly two-minute trailer is provided here. 

Final Thoughts

Perfect Days is one of the best Wim Wenders movies we have seen in some time. The filmmaker yields all of his most effective cinematic qualities and melds them with the patient sensibility of a Japanese legend. The subject is not inherently sexy, but Wenders taps into the humanity that makes even public work sublime. Koji Yakusho is spellbinding as our lead who says so much only using his eyes. This feature is so gentle and rewarding that any self-respecting cinephile should give it a shot. The Criterion Collection has released a  4K UHD Blu-Ray with a sumptuous A/V presentation and some rewarding special features. This is a film that deserves all of the praise heaped upon it and so much more. Highly Recommended 

The Criterion Collection edition of Perfect Days will be available to purchase on July 16, 2024, on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, and DVD.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: The Criterion Collection has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.