The movie "Perfect Days" was examined from the positive psychology perspective

Üsküdar University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology faculty member Prof. Tayfun Doğan examined the movie "Perfect Days" from the perspective of positive psychology. Doğan examined the film on topics such as psychological well-being, minimalism, human-nature interaction and aesthetics. Doğan stated that "The film can be considered as a challenge to modern urban life and capitalism, or as a guide to survival in such a lifestyle.”

A movie that will warm your heart...

Üsküdar University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Department of Psychology faculty member Prof. Tayfun Doğan, who examined the movie "Perfect Days" in terms of positive psychology, discussed the remarkable points in the movie.

Doğan stated that "The film can be seen as a challenge to modern urban life and capitalism, or as a guide to survival in such a lifestyle. The movie inevitably makes you question your life. You realize that you are in a constant rush in the fast-paced city life, that you are constantly striving like a person on a treadmill, that you are complaining, but you are not getting anywhere. 'What am I doing? Where am I trying to reach? What is the point of all this rush?' Apart from its questioning role, I can say that it is a movie that will warm your heart. In the film, attention is drawn to minimalist living (voluntary simplicity), our detachment from nature, mindfulness, slowing down, refined tastes, that another life is possible despite the current conditions, that happiness should not be sought in consumption, being attentive, want-need distinction and routines."

“It shows that happiness is more about attitude than circumstances."

Evaluating the film in terms of happiness, Prof. Tayfun Doğan expressed that "The point that grabs our attention in the routines is the happy, serene and peaceful state of the main character Hirayama. Our main character is able to be happy under the current conditions. In a crowded and busy city like Tokyo, he creates opportunities for himself to interact with nature. Isaac Asimov said, ‘Maybe happiness is this: not feeling like you should be elsewhere, doing something else, being someone else.’ That is exactly what Hirayama is experiencing. Whatever the current conditions are, he tries to compile the happiness here instead of complaining about them. He experiences the sense of serenity and gratitude that this gives. It almost shows that happiness is more about attitude than circumstances. In this way, he tries to add meaning and value to his life."

"To get rid of all the redundancy in our lives and to experience the peace of simplicity..."

Stating that the main character does not seek happiness in consumption, Doğan stated that people can also be happy with what they have. Doğan stated that "One of the things that caught my attention in the film is Hirayama's preference for a minimalist life. We can characterize minimalism as voluntary simplicity. Getting rid of all the redundancy in our lives and experiencing the peace of simplicity. In the field of positive psychology, research on the relationship between minimalism and happiness indicates that minimalist living increases happiness. Hirayama lives in voluntary simplicity and modesty in every aspect of his life. Hirayama does not seek happiness in consumption, and he is able to make happiness possible with what he has. Hirayama's relationships also seem minimalist. He lives in a chosen loneliness. He seems to have adopted the concept of 'less people, more peace'. He has relationships and communication with a limited number of people. He does not communicate with his family either. This aspect can be considered risky in terms of mental health because loneliness is described as the most suitable environment where many mental health problems can reproduce."

“The fact that we are detached from nature is one of the important reasons for our unhappiness and tension."

Emphasizing the interaction between human and nature, Prof. Tayfun Doğan expressed that people who move away from nature are unhappy and nervous. Doğan stated that "Another point we need to mention is the interaction between nature and people. The fact that we are detached from nature is one of the important reasons for our unhappiness and tension. We belong to nature, and it is as if we have lost our home by moving away from it. In this sense, Desmond Morris describes modern cities as 'human zoo’. Just as animals that are torn from their natural environment in zoos lose their vitality and energy, and move away from their natural state, people who have moved away from nature take on a neurotic mood, become depressed, nervous and anxious in these human zoos. In the film, Hirayama found solutions to this situation in one of the most populous cities in the world, such as Tokyo. He observes trees in parks and takes pictures of them. Apart from that, he takes the small shoots he finds in the park to his home and plants them in pots. He spends time on the seashore when he feels upset. Every morning when he wakes up, he looks at the sun and smiles. He rides a bicycle in rainy weather. In other words, it creates opportunities for itself to interact with nature as much as possible."

Appreciation of aesthetics and excellence...

Doğan said that our brains and eyes should be trained in that direction for the appreciation of aesthetics and perfection. Doğan also stated that "One of the research topics and character strengths in positive psychology is the 'appreciation of aesthetics and excellence'. The concept is about noticing and appreciating the beauty in life, aesthetics, things to be thankful for. Hirayama, the protagonist of the film, successfully implements this. He is happy when he looks at the sun, sees the beauty of the trees and takes photos, is impressed by the innocence of a child and helps him, and enjoys the music he listens to. The appreciation of aesthetics and perfection is possible by training our brain and eye in this direction. The most prominent characteristics of people who are not successful in this regard are that they find fault in everything, are in a constant state of complaint and are not satisfied with anything."

“It is like he took the stress out of his life."

Drawing attention to the issue of time management, Doğan said that it is necessary to follow routines to be successful in this regard. Doğan stated that "Another striking point in the film is that Hirayama has a very planned, systematic and slow life. He is not in a hurry at all. He is not in a rush. It's like he took the stress out of his life. He does all his duties, the things he likes, in place and properly. We can attribute this to the fact that he is good at time management and follows his routines. He lives slowly and digestively. There is no effort to miss the agenda, to catch up with everything, to consume everything. It acts with the understanding that 'every book that has not been read, every movie that has not been watched, every music that has not been listened to is new.'"

Briefly summarizing the character of Hirayama, Doğan made the following remarks:

"-When he looks at the stars, he does not forget the flowers under his feet.

-It shows that a life other than the one we have always had is possible.

-He does not live in the world in which he was born, but in the world he has chosen.

-He does not seek happiness in consumption, and he lives a minimalist lifestyle.

-He collects and accumulates the small joys in his life.

-It shows that happiness can be found in the banality of life.

"He does not worry about being somewhere else, being someone else, or doing something else."

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)