Featured Audience Ratings

• Stella D

  
  *sigh* '64 not '74. in a lonely place as directed by melville and set in tokyo

• El Hombre I

  
  While the French were creating the new wave movement of the 50s-60s, Japanese studios were turning out bold, fresh, new films. The yakuza drama is as old as Japanese cinema itself, but director Masahiro Shinoda joins it with expressionism and shadowy western noir themes that lean… More
  While the French were creating the new wave movement of the 50s-60s, Japanese studios were turning out bold, fresh, new films. The yakuza drama is as old as Japanese cinema itself, but director Masahiro Shinoda joins it with expressionism and shadowy western noir themes that lean more towards fate and love than your average gangster flick. <a href="http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/?action=view¤t=paleflower.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/paleflower.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

• JY S

  
  <i>Pale Flower</i> is a nicely written 1960s Japanese Yakuza gangster flick, which covers gambling, love, and murder. Everything a growing person needs.<p>While this is a Yakuza film involving 3 gangs, the action is non-existent. This is a slow burn of a story that… More
  <i>Pale Flower</i> is a nicely written 1960s Japanese Yakuza gangster flick, which covers gambling, love, and murder. Everything a growing person needs.<p>While this is a Yakuza film involving 3 gangs, the action is non-existent. This is a slow burn of a story that follows Muraki and his chance meeting with Saeko. While it is the Muraki character that is the main focus of the film, it is Saeko that will catch most people's attention. It is her lust for intense pleasures that will freak you out. Her wicked laugh during and after each intense situation will prove that you.</p><p><i>Pale Flower</i> is shot entirely in black and white and it fits right in with the story. The only flaw is that there are a few dark scenes, which can be tough to make out. The plethora of gambling scenes are addictive in the way that it makes you want to participate. All those Hanafuda cards just pull you in. "Place your bets, place your bets, place your bets ..." There is also a car race scene that shows up out of nowhere and it is quite entertaining.</p><p>The acting is calm and subtle, but it works. Ryo Ikebe and Mariko Kaga carry this one to the very end. Speaking of the very end, it is brilliantly written.</p><p>This film uses good cinematography and writing to tell a decent story about living dangerously to feel something in life. If you get the chance to see this, give it a try.

• Chris B

  
  Definetly on the darker side of the noir genre, Pale Flower is one of the best yakuza films to come from Japan. The film has a very suspenseful and eerie score that matches the characters and their edge of the seat lifestyles. Ultimately the film gives you an inside look into the post… More
  Definetly on the darker side of the noir genre, Pale Flower is one of the best yakuza films to come from Japan. The film has a very suspenseful and eerie score that matches the characters and their edge of the seat lifestyles. Ultimately the film gives you an inside look into the post war Japan and the dark side of the yakuza, and I loved the inside look. Highly Recommended!