Le Depassionne

@framespersecond2

Harley Davidson

Photographed by Ellen von Unwerth for Guess

Harlem, 117th Street, Photo by Shawn Walker, 1960s

MOTO MORINI

What a nice little gem. The first thing I noticed was the cinematography. From the very first shots, the movie felt so alive. I also loved the structure, the way it starts off by showing us the main character's perfect routine and then goes to show us the little things that shake it up from time to time. It's not a particularly eventful story, that's for sure, but the result is just so lovely. The key element is Koji Yakusho's luminous performance. He's always been a magnetic screen presence, and that remains so even in a more restrained context. I only wish we could have learned more about the character, since his past kept being hinted at. Also, I couldn't help but wonder why the public toilets shown in the film looked so cool. Anyway, Perfect Days is a pleasant love letter to the little things in life.