Pale Flower (Kawaita hana)
Directed by Masahiro Shinoda
Written by Masaru Baba and Masahiro Shinoda from a novel by Shintaro Ishihara
1964/Japan
Bungei Production Ninjin Club
First viewing/FilmStruck
I have long understood that losing always comes with the territory when you wander into the gambling business, just as getting crippled for life is an acceptable risk in the linebacker business. They both are extremely violent sports, and pain is part of the bargain. Buy the ticket, take the ride. Hunter S. Thompson
The style is is some of the most striking of the Japanese New Wave.
Gangster Muraki is released from prison and slowly makes his way back into the underworld where he has many friends. While he is waiting for the action to heat up among shifting gang loyalties, he meets up with mysterious, beautiful compulsive gambler Saeko. Muraki becomes obsessed with the strange girl and introduces her to higher stakes games.
Saeko clearly gets a sexual charge from gambling and other high risk sports such as speeding and heroin. Muraki eventually gets hired as a hit man by one of the gangs and witnessing a murder may be Saeko’s greatest thrill yet.
Although the plot is extremely slight, the film is consistently fascinating to watch. It’s a bit like Godard might be minus the inane dialogue and philosophy – an almost pure exercise in style. On balance, I enjoyed this.
