Some pictures of the Criterion Collection 4K blu-ray set and its contents for Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days, starring Japanese actor Koji Yakusho.

I’ve been a fan of Wim Wenders’ films ever since I saw Wings Of Desire (1987), so I had high confidence that I was going to enjoy Perfect Days as well. The mundane and slow pacing of the film, an anti-thesis of Hollywood’s three act structure is a nod to one of Japan’s most respected film directors Yasujiro Ozu.

Personally, I liken my acquired taste for this form of slow cinema ( Wim Wenders / Yazujiro Ozu / Hou Hsiao Hsien ) to that of Japanese green tea, which became more and more appealing to me as I grew older; when I was younger it tasted just bland and boring, but now I’ve come to fully appreciate the richness and aroma of it.

Film synopsis – 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.

(above & below) I love the design for the inner sleeve cover, which is a picture of Hirayama’s ( played by Koji Yakusho ) cassette tape collection, pretty much the only substantial possession he owns.

If you enjoyed Wim Wenders "Perfect Days" film and are into architectural design as well, this book should interest you – The Tokyo Toilet; a showcase of 17 unique toilet designs in the city, some of which are featured in the movie. In both Jap/Eng ! – https://t.co/qijobD6Nu5 pic.twitter.com/GJV1gNUFjo

— blauereiter (@blauereiter) June 5, 2024

DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

– 4K digital master, approved by director Wim Wenders, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
– One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
– New interview with Wenders
– Interview with actor Koji Yakusho
– Interview with producer Koji Yanai, founder of the Tokyo Toilet project
– some body comes into the light (2023), a short by Wenders, featuring a new introduction by the director
– Trailer
– PLUS: An essay by film critic Bilge Ebiri

Shot on digital format and released in 2023, the 4K presentation is crisp and clean, and I’m not sure I have much else to say about it. The supplementary materials are on the light side compared to other Criterion titles, but the new interviews with Wim Wenders and Koji Yakusho are both excellent, especially the former where Wenders talk about Yasujiro Ozu’s influence on his film work.

Just like Japanese green tea, I forsee myself enjoying a taste of this film every now and then, and I’m sure the flavor and aroma will only get better with the passing of time. Recommended.

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