Pale Flower (1964)

A gangster gets released from prison and has to cope with the recent shifts of power between the gangs, while taking care of a thrill-seeking young woman, who got in bad company while gambling.

Director:

Masahiro Shinoda

Writers:

Shintarô Ishihara (based on the novel by), Masaru Baba (screenplay)

Stars:

Ryô Ikebe, Mariko Kaga, Takashi Fujiki

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ryô Ikebe	...	Muraki
Mariko Kaga	...	Saeko
Takashi Fujiki	...	Yoh
Naoki Sugiura	...	Aikawa
Shin'ichirô Mikami	...	Reiji
Isao Sasaki	...	Jiro
Kôji Nakahara	...	Tamaki (as Koji Nakahara)
Chisako Hara	...	Yakuza's Lover
Seiji Miyaguchi	...	Gang leader
Eijirô Tôno	...	Gang Leader
Mikizo Hirata	...	Mizuguchi
Reizaburô Yamamoto
Kyû Sazanka	...	Imai
Hideo Kidokoro
Akio Tanaka	...	Patron

Storyline

Just released from prison after serving three years for murdering a member of a rival gang, Maraki, a middle-aged yakuza, returns to his old haunts in Tokyo largely out of loyalties despite not much liking that life or himself in the process. Those old routines include assuming his place within the Funada gang, reconnecting with Shinko, his twenty-three year old girlfriend, who wants a commitment from him (something he probably isn't willing to give), she threatening to accept another marriage proposal otherwise despite her love for him, and gambling at his usual illegal card den despite he not often winning. Although at first glance he thinks nothing has changed in three years, there are some major changes, especially that the Funada gang has merged with that rival gang partly to maintain the peace. One other change is that an innocent looking, young, upscale woman, Saeko, she the only female, has started gambling at that same card den, that innocent look beyond the fact that she ...

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Plot Keywords:

release from prison | voice over narration | gambling | ex convict | prison | 

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Genres:

Action | Crime

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

1 March 1964 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Fiore secco

Filming Locations:

Tokyo, Japan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bungei Production Ninjin Club, Shochiku

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film is included on Roger Ebert's "Great Movies" list.

User Reviews

Different type of yakuza movie

Most of the Asian gangster movies I have seen, promote the brotherhood and the comradery between members, like Young and Dangerous, or have denounced gangster activity, showing if as degrading and evil. This movie does neither. It instead shows how gangster life has both good and bad; however in the end proves to be a pointless cause. The main character, is just released from jail, and immediately reunites with his own yakuza. His life is changed when he meets Saeko, a young woman who is addicted to high stakes life of the yakuza. Together they journey through a city and time, where everything is changing constantly; yet in the end, it becomes apparent that none of these things really matter. This movie is really good. I recommend it.