Wim Wenders found inspiration for his new film in a quirky public toilet in Tokyo

From wings of desire to Buena Vista Social Clubthe work of Wim Wenders is eclectic, and the German director found his latest inspiration… in the public toilets of Tokyo.

His new film is interested in “Tokyo Toilet art project”, a renovation project on which renowned architects are working. It’s about transforming 17 rather dull toilets in Shibuya Ward into works of art.

One of them is equipped with colored and transparent cabins which become opaque when the door is closed, and another is decorated with wooden panels created by the architect of the Olympic Stadium, Kengo Kuma. All of these new facilities are free, wheelchair accessible and kept immaculately clean by a team of cleaners.

“There’s something very Japanese about this idea, about all this decor. I almost think it’s a utopian idea”, said Wim Wenders during a press conference on Wednesday May 11, 2022. “The toilet is a place where everyone is the same. There are no rich and poor, no old and young, everyone is part of humanity.”

The director said he was approached by the organizers of the renovation project, who inspired him to make the film, which brings together four short stories, with the famous Japanese actor Koji Yakusho in the role of a cleaner.

“I love architecture. In another life, I would certainly like to be an architect”, confessed Wim Wenders, who said he was particularly happy to work with the famous Japanese architect Tadao Ando, ​​who contributed to the project with a sparkling circular structure with thin slats letting the air through. “I was so happy when I saw his toilet, how he worked with the light…. I thought, this is a precious place”, said the director. Twelve of Tokyo’s 17 new toilets have been completed and are in use.

In numerous countries, “public toilets are not considered beautiful”said Tadao Ando. “So I thought that these beautiful toilets could convey a sense of Japan’s beauty to people all over the world,” he explained.

This is not the first time that Wim Wenders has worked in Japan: his 1985 film Tokyo Ga is a tribute to the city as seen by film master Yasujiro Ozu, and he also made a documentary about fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto.