Pale Flower Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: Pale Flower
Year: 1964
Director: Masahiro Shinoda
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese 

Gangster films are well received in the Western World. Films like Goodfellas, The Godfather and Scarface have been hailed as cinematic masterpieces. Unfortunately films portraying the yakuza are not as well known in North America. These films often dive deeper into understanding the nature of man and arguably are better character studies. Perhaps the greatest of these films is Shinoda's Pale Flower.

The film is about Muraki, a hardboiled Yakuza gangster, has just been released from prison after serving a sentence for murder. Revisiting his old gambling haunts, he meets Saeko, a striking young upper-class woman who is out seeking thrills, and whose presence adds spice to the staid masculine underworld rituals. However he realizes that Saeko's insatiable lust for intense pleasures may be leading her to self-destruction.

Pale Flower is a product of the  "new wave" art cinema of Japan in the 60's which was as innovative and profound as the revolutionary American and European films of the era. It is also an example of Amour Fou, films with characters who have an uncontrollable or obsessive passion. Muraki meets Saeko and as time goes by they seek bigger and bigger kicks, all in some vain attempt to feel something, anything at all. It makes one wonder how in love they are. Is their relationship purely based on mutual self destruction?

In some ways they are the Romeo and Juliet of Japanese underground gangsters. Director Shinoda puts together a very impressive film, so smart and tightly constructed. His use of camera and lighting is masterful, his characters are multi dimensional and real in many ways. The film is filled with depict nihilism, yet there is never a dull moment and always a great sense of dread and doom.

In conclusion, Pale Flower is an incredibly thought provoking film which acts as great social commentary. It reflects the end of the old Japanese tradition of honor and obedience to a patriarchal system that was in disarray after their defeat in WWII and the occupation that followed. Using a brilliant score, Shinoda's film is one that will stand the test of tiime. Praise it! 5/5