Tokyo commissioned designers to create 17 cool and interesting public toilets around the city (there’s a link below). Kôji Yakusho plays a man who diligently cleans them. The film spends the majority of the time with this activity, but also outlines the other procedures in his structured routine; grooming, reading, eating and listening to cassettes of American music. He also revels in the beauty of trees and takes photos of them. As created by director Wim Wenders, the acts of mindfully appreciating details become a sort of meditation. The title refers to the Lou Reed song, which is about simple daily pleasures. While there’s are some small story developments, the film is primarily a poetic rumination about appreciating life. Yakusho won Best Actor at Cannes, which is a challenge because he conveys little emotion during most of the film, but the powerful final close-up sums up his life and helps explains the Cannes recognition. NOTE: Stay thru the credits for a final image and the context supplied by a definition of komorebi. (In Japanese with subtitles) 
(3.5 / 5)