Why do they choose to wash the clothes by hand?

It's harder work, some people enjoy doing the harder work. I think it's because, well don't know how to explain it but it's more human, you know? Not using a machine to do your work. He liked cleaning and being a tidy person maybe he just liked the experience or memories it brought from hand washing. Maybe he use to watch his mother wash the clothes, I don't know.

Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone.

I believe it shows independence. He was living with the unexpected; he should be able to deal with every kind of tomorrow, which includes being able to handle his hygiene (washing his own clothes, for instance). She learned it. If one day she had to deal with being poor (this is an example), she'd be used to handling everything herself.

My opinion, of course...

I think she started washing by hand because the activity reminded her of him, just like sleeping on that person's bench. They had done it and been there together.

I want to be the hero of the day

Some clothes (delicate stuff like silk and cashmere) need to be hand washed. I find washing clothes by hand very relaxing.

I think she was doing it because it reminded her of him. He was doing it because the director wanted to show that he's a sensitive caring guy.

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On a similar note, I was questioning why he was reading the woman's "nude" photography magazine underwater while in the bathtub only to blow dry it later. He could have read it without getting it wet. I think there must be some significance to that and washing the clothes by hand.

Simple. Showing him throw clothes in the washer would have left little or no impression on the viewer.

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!