PERFECT DAYS

Perfect Days (2023) directed by Wim Wenders. This is a perfect film, a slow and languid slice-of-life tone poem that follows the day-to-day routine of Hirayama, a cleaner with The Tokyo Toilet. There is variation in the sameness of each day, even as each day is anchored in quotidian touch points. The cinematography is beautiful, the sound design is exquisite, and the "dream installations" between days are intriguing. I could seriously step into Hirayama's life and be content.

"The world is made of many worlds. Some are connected and some are not." This is film as meditation and I'm here for it.

Streaming on Hulu.

THE VVITCH

The VVitch (2015) written and directed by Robert Eggers. "We will conquer this wilderness. It will not consume us." A Puritan family is cursed by God. Or do they instead convince themselves of the same? I find it fascinating that I remember large brush strokes of the story, after multiple viewings the past decade, but forget many of the details. For instance, I think I've blocked out the witch at the very beginning of the film. I don't remember the dark hare and the role it plays. This is the cinematic child of the Grimm brothers, John Calvin, Washington Irving, Nathaniel Hawthorne. It is so well done, and it foreshadows the other movies by Eggers.

"Black Phillip! Black Phillip!" Even though it's historical fiction of the seventeenth century, I think it also speaks into the darkness and demons of our own time. This is easily one of my top five films.

Viewed on DVD.

THE ANIMAL KINGDOM

The Animal Kingdom (2023) directed by Thomas Cailley. If you liked The Lobster by Yorgos Lanthimos, Disney animated Brave, or werewolf flicka, then this movie is for you. It is all of those and none of those. A strange disease (COVID allegory, racism, modernism in general?) is mutating some into beasts. We follow François and his son Èmile as they deal with the aftermath of the transformation of Lana, their wife and mother, and the changes it brings to their lives. It's a story of illness, hiddenness, passing, and freedom, as well as a coming-of-age tale. It's a mixture of practical special effects and CGI. There's some low-key body horror at play. Recommended.

Streaming on Hulu.

JAY KELLY

Jay Kelley (2025) directed by Noah Baumbach. An accomplished and aging movie star, Jay Kelly (George Clooney), is having an existential crisis. When is one authentic? When is one acting? Can one be both or are these concepts always in opposition? Fame provides success, wealth, and accolades, but at what cost? This film is filled with loss, longing, and loneliness, but very little love. The tragedy is that it is all self-created. Is Jay Kelly a likable character? There are some echoes of It's a Wonderful Life, but remixed with This Is Your Life. The film also serves as a love song to a bygone era of Hollywood. Some of my favorite scenes are flashbacks and how they are handled. Well acted and well crafted. In addition to Clooney, Adam Sandler and Laura Dern provide some great acting. I recommend it!

Streaming on Netflix.

LUNK

Meet my new friend Lunk. Lunk is at the growing edge of my right arm for overhead presses, and will really challenge my left arm. But Lunk is perfect, as of right now, for two-handed exercises, such as deadlifts.

I'm hoping Lunk helps my left arm in its new/next phase of returning to normal.

ARE WE ONE

Are We One (2024) directed by Dónal Ó Céillrachair. This spiritual biography follows the path of faith walked by Robert Kennedy, Jesuit priest and Zen priest both. We see the dharma transmitted through his three teachers—Yamada Roshi, Maezumi Roshi, and Glassman Roshi—to him, and, through his practice and work as Roshi (Zen Master), to his successors. The controversy of his installation, especially in the world of American Zen, is also touched upon. I sensed much suffering in his life, but also his moving with and through it; living his life, being himself. This is an inspiring story of one person's life and the interconnectedness and influence upon those around him.

Viewed as the January 2026 selection of the Tricycle Film Club.

TEMPLE

Practice tonight, with South Sound Zen. Zazen. Kinhin. Chanting. The reading of a poem, "[I Saw Myself]" by Lew Welch.

I was the fukudo (temple drummer) this evening.

•

I saw myself
a ring of bone
in the clear stream
of all of it

and vowed,
always to be open to it
that all of it
might flow through

and then heard
“ring of bone” where
ring is what a

bell does

ALTAR

I bought a small black metal side table and a couple of bamboo cutting boards at IKEA to build a simple and inexpensive home altar. ("Practice" is my word for 2026.)



The altar is ready for shikantaza ("just sitting").



I also purchased a 4-inch camphor-wood mokugyo (fish drum) for chanting at home.

PRACTICE

My word for 2026 is "practice."

•

On a draw, I caught my left hand with the edge of the sword. If it had been a live blade, I would have lost my four fingers and half of my palm (where the blade lies across my hand). I think I know what I did wrong and 舌 gave me a strong bite for good measure (and to remember). Hence the need for practice!

PACIFIC BEACH / OCEAN

Pacific Beach, Washington.