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{{Short description|1964 film directed by Masahiro Shinoda}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox film {{Infobox film
| name = Pale Flower | name = Pale Flower
| image = | image =
| image size =
| alt = | alt =
| caption = | caption =
| director = ] | director = ]
| producer = | producer = Masao Shirai<br/>Shigeru Wakatsuki
| writer = ]<br/>Masahiro Shinoda | writer = ]<br/>Masahiro Shinoda
| screenplay = | screenplay =
| story = ] | story = ]
| based on = <!-- {{based on|title of the original work|writer of the original work}} --> | based_on = <!-- {{based on|title of the original work|writer of the original work}} -->
| narrator = | narrator =
| starring = ]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>] | starring = ]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]
| music = ] | music = ]
| cinematography = ] | cinematography = ]
| editing = | editing = Yoshi Sugihara
| studio = | studio =
| distributor = ] | distributor = ]
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}} }}


{{nihongo|'''''Pale Flower'''''|乾いた花|'''''Kawaita hana'''''}} is a 1964 Japanese film noir directed by ]. The film is about Muraki (]) a ] hitman just released from prison. At an illegal gambling parlor, he finds himself drawn to a mysterious young woman named Saeko (]). Though Saeko loses large sums of money, she asks Muraki to find games with larger and larger stakes. The two become involved in an intense mutually destructive relationship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/work/pale-flower-179883|work=Allmovie|accessdate=February 14, 2011|title=Pale Flower: Overview - Allmovie|author=Crow, Jonathan}}</ref> Film critic Roger Ebert gave ''Pale Flower'' four stars and put it on his list of Great Movies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-pale-flower-1964|work=RogerEbert|accessdate=June 23, 2017|title=Pale Flower Movie Review|author=Ebert, Roger}}</ref> {{nihongo|'''''Pale Flower'''''|乾いた花|'''''Kawaita hana'''''}} is a 1964 Japanese ] directed by ]. The film is about Muraki (]) a ] hitman just released from prison. At an illegal gambling parlor, he finds himself drawn to a mysterious young woman named Saeko (]). Though Saeko loses large sums of money, she asks Muraki to find games with larger and larger stakes. The two become involved in an intense mutually destructive relationship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/work/pale-flower-179883|website=Allmovie|access-date=February 14, 2011|title=Pale Flower: Overview|author=Crow, Jonathan}}</ref> Film critic ] gave ''Pale Flower'' four stars and placed it on his list of Great Movies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-pale-flower-1964|website=]|access-date=June 23, 2017|title=Pale Flower Movie Review|author=Ebert, Roger}}</ref>


==Plot== ==Plot==
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. Muraki becomes her mentor while simultaneously coping with the shifts of power that have affected the gangs while he was interred. When he notices a rogue, drug-addicted young punk hanging around the gambling dens, he realizes that Saeko’s insatiable lust for intense pleasures may be leading her to self-destruction. Muraki, a hard-boiled Yakuza gangster, has been released from prison after serving a sentence for murdering Kijima, a rival gang member. At an illegal gambling parlor, he bets a large sum of money and loses to Saeko, a young upper-class woman who drives fast cars. Later that night, he reconnects with Shinko Furuta, his former lover, at a clock shop whose abusive brother has mortgaged the shop. The next day, at a horse race, Muraki learns that the Yazuka gang has made peace with the Funada gang to counter the Imai gang from ]. A week later, Saeko asks Muraki to take her somewhere she can play for higher stakes.

On her way home, a co-worker from her office proposes marriage to Shinko, but she refuses. Shinko recounts what occurred, in which Muraki tells her to marry the co-worker, but she refuses because she loves Muraki. Muraki takes Saeko to a high-stakes gambling den at Aikawa's inn in Tsunamachi, Tokyo, where she wins another large sum of money. Days later, Muraki learns about Yoh, a heroin addict who fled ] after killing two people. Muraki confesses he hates drug addicts, seeing them as cowards. However, Saeko is attracted to Yoh because she has an interest in taking illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, the Yazuka and Funada gang leaders discuss sending Muraki on an errand to kill the Imai gang leader. After another night of high-stakes gambling, Muraki walks down a street where he is ambushed by a knife-wielding assailant. Days pass, in which Muraki goes without seeing Saeko. He later tells Reiji about a nightmare he recently had, in which Yoh gives Saeko a drug injection.

He wakes up later, and learns that Tamaki, a member of the Funada gang, has been killed by the Imai gang. Reiji offers to avenge Tamaki's death, but the Funada boss turns him down. Muraki then volunteers to kill Imai. Back at his apartment, Muraki meets with Shinko again encouraging her to marry and leave him be. Before he leaves with Reiji, Muraki meets again with Saeko, who tells him she experimented with heroin. Angered, Muraki takes her to a classical music café where Imai happens to be. At the café, he stabs Imai to death right in front of her.

Two years later, inside a prison, Muraki learns that Saeko has been killed by Yoh. He reflects that while Saeko is dead, he still longs for her.


==Production== ==Production==
Director Shinoda was influenced by ]'s '']'' while making the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.criterion.com/current/posts/1860-pale-flower-loser-take-all|work=]|title=Pale Flower: Loser Take All|first=Chuck|last=Stephens|accessdate=August 28, 2011|date=May 17, 2011}}</ref> Shinoda chose the subject of ] as he felt the yakuza world is the only place where a Japanese ceremonial structure is sustained.<ref name="schrader205">Schrader, 2005. p.205</ref> Director Shinoda was influenced by ]'s '']'' while making the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.criterion.com/current/posts/1860-pale-flower-loser-take-all|work=]|title=Pale Flower: Loser Take All|first=Chuck|last=Stephens|access-date=August 28, 2011|date=May 17, 2011}}</ref> Shinoda chose the subject of ] as he felt the yakuza world is the only place where a Japanese ceremonial structure is sustained.<ref name="schrader205">Schrader, 2005. p.205</ref>


==Release== ==Release==
When screenwriter Masaru Baba saw Shinoda's film focus on visual and sound, he complained to the managers at the company ]. This led to a nine-month delay of the film's release.<ref name="schrader205" /> The film's focus on visuals and sound over dialogue prompted screenwriter Masaru Baba to complain to managers at ]. His accusation that Shinoda had made an "anarchistic" film led to a nine-month delay of the film's release.<ref name="schrader205" />


===Home video=== ===Home video===
Homevision released a ] DVD of ''Pale Flower'' on November 18, 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/dvd/pale-flower-44546|work=Allmovie|accessdate=February 14, 2011|title=Pale Flower: Overview: Allmovie|author=Deming, Mark}}</ref> ] have released a new DVD and ] edition of the film that features a new video interview with Masahiro Shinoda and selected-scene audio commentary by film scholar Peter Grilli .<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.criterion.com/films/27604-pale-flower|work=]|title=Pale Flower (1964) - The Criterion Collection|accessdate=February 14, 2011}}</ref> Homevision released a ] DVD of ''Pale Flower'' on November 18, 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/dvd/pale-flower-44546|work=Allmovie|accessdate=February 14, 2011|title=Pale Flower: Overview: Allmovie|author=Deming, Mark}}</ref> ] released a DVD and Blu-ray edition of the film that features a video interview with Masahiro Shinoda as well as commentary by film scholar Peter Grilli.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.criterion.com/films/27604-pale-flower|work=]|title=Pale Flower (1964) - The Criterion Collection|accessdate=February 14, 2011}}</ref>


==Notes== ==Legacy==
In 2012, filmmaker ] included the film in his personal top ten (for ] poll), writing: "Why can’t all film noir be like ''Pale Flower?''"<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/sightandsoundpoll2012/voter/886 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818113652/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/sightandsoundpoll2012/voter/886 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |title=BFI |website=www.bfi.org.uk}}</ref> In 2022, filmmaker ] included the film in his personal top ten for '']'', writing: "For its incredible opening scenes alone."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Michael Mann |url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/greatest-films-all-time/all-voters/michael-mann |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=]}}</ref>
⚫ {{reflist}}


==References== ==References==
⚫ {{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
*{{cite book *{{cite book
| last= Richie | last= Richie
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{{1960s-Japan-film-stub}} {{1960s-Japan-film-stub}}

Latest revision as of 16:52, 11 November 2024

1964 film directed by Masahiro Shinoda

Pale Flower
Directed byMasahiro Shinoda
Written byMasaru Baba
Masahiro Shinoda
Story byShintaro Ishihara
Produced byMasao Shirai
Shigeru Wakatsuki
StarringRyō Ikebe
Mariko Kaga
Isao Sasaki
Takashi Fujiki
Chisako Hara
CinematographyMasao Kosugi
Edited byYoshi Sugihara
Music byToru Takemitsu
Distributed byShochiku
Release date
  • 1964 (1964)
Running time96 minutes
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese

Pale Flower (乾いた花, Kawaita hana) is a 1964 Japanese film noir directed by Masahiro Shinoda. The film is about Muraki (Ryō Ikebe) a Yakuza hitman just released from prison. At an illegal gambling parlor, he finds himself drawn to a mysterious young woman named Saeko (Mariko Kaga). Though Saeko loses large sums of money, she asks Muraki to find games with larger and larger stakes. The two become involved in an intense mutually destructive relationship. Film critic Roger Ebert gave Pale Flower four stars and placed it on his list of Great Movies.

Plot

Muraki, a hard-boiled Yakuza gangster, has been released from prison after serving a sentence for murdering Kijima, a rival gang member. At an illegal gambling parlor, he bets a large sum of money and loses to Saeko, a young upper-class woman who drives fast cars. Later that night, he reconnects with Shinko Furuta, his former lover, at a clock shop whose abusive brother has mortgaged the shop. The next day, at a horse race, Muraki learns that the Yazuka gang has made peace with the Funada gang to counter the Imai gang from Osaka. A week later, Saeko asks Muraki to take her somewhere she can play for higher stakes.

On her way home, a co-worker from her office proposes marriage to Shinko, but she refuses. Shinko recounts what occurred, in which Muraki tells her to marry the co-worker, but she refuses because she loves Muraki. Muraki takes Saeko to a high-stakes gambling den at Aikawa's inn in Tsunamachi, Tokyo, where she wins another large sum of money. Days later, Muraki learns about Yoh, a heroin addict who fled Hong Kong after killing two people. Muraki confesses he hates drug addicts, seeing them as cowards. However, Saeko is attracted to Yoh because she has an interest in taking illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, the Yazuka and Funada gang leaders discuss sending Muraki on an errand to kill the Imai gang leader. After another night of high-stakes gambling, Muraki walks down a street where he is ambushed by a knife-wielding assailant. Days pass, in which Muraki goes without seeing Saeko. He later tells Reiji about a nightmare he recently had, in which Yoh gives Saeko a drug injection.

He wakes up later, and learns that Tamaki, a member of the Funada gang, has been killed by the Imai gang. Reiji offers to avenge Tamaki's death, but the Funada boss turns him down. Muraki then volunteers to kill Imai. Back at his apartment, Muraki meets with Shinko again encouraging her to marry and leave him be. Before he leaves with Reiji, Muraki meets again with Saeko, who tells him she experimented with heroin. Angered, Muraki takes her to a classical music café where Imai happens to be. At the café, he stabs Imai to death right in front of her.

Two years later, inside a prison, Muraki learns that Saeko has been killed by Yoh. He reflects that while Saeko is dead, he still longs for her.

Production

Director Shinoda was influenced by Charles Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du mal while making the film. Shinoda chose the subject of yakuza as he felt the yakuza world is the only place where a Japanese ceremonial structure is sustained.

Release

The film's focus on visuals and sound over dialogue prompted screenwriter Masaru Baba to complain to managers at Shochiku. His accusation that Shinoda had made an "anarchistic" film led to a nine-month delay of the film's release.

Home video

Homevision released a Region 1 DVD of Pale Flower on November 18, 2003. The Criterion Collection released a DVD and Blu-ray edition of the film that features a video interview with Masahiro Shinoda as well as commentary by film scholar Peter Grilli.

Legacy

In 2012, filmmaker Ashim Ahluwalia included the film in his personal top ten (for The Sight & Sound Top 50 Greatest Films of All Time poll), writing: "Why can’t all film noir be like Pale Flower?" In 2022, filmmaker Michael Mann included the film in his personal top ten for Sight and Sound, writing: "For its incredible opening scenes alone."

References

  1. Crow, Jonathan. "Pale Flower: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  2. Ebert, Roger. "Pale Flower Movie Review". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  3. Stephens, Chuck (17 May 2011). "Pale Flower: Loser Take All". Criterion Collection. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  4. ^ Schrader, 2005. p.205
  5. Deming, Mark. "Pale Flower: Overview: Allmovie". Allmovie. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  6. "Pale Flower (1964) - The Criterion Collection". Criterion Collection. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  7. "BFI". www.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016.
  8. "Michael Mann". British Film Institute. Retrieved 21 April 2023.

Bibliography

External links

Films directed by Masahiro Shinoda


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