Customer Reviews

Pale Flower

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an absolutely beautiful yakuza film by Masahiro Shinoda. It is much deeper and thought-provoking than typical yakuza b-movies, which glorify violence and the gangster lifestyle. However, this is not a b-movie, but more of a poetic and artistic yakuza noir. It was films like this, and the famous yakuza films by Kinji Fukasaku - such as the 'Battles without Honor' series, and 'Graveyard of Honor' - that redefined the yakuza genre into morality plays that were highly critical of the criminal aspects of Japanese society. Thus, the film is not action-packed, but much slower in pace, which actually makes it much stronger.
This edition, released by Home Vision Entertainment, has a good transfer and picture quality, and the film also boasts a very good score. The music is especially powerful near the end of the film. Overall, it is a must for anyone who likes yakuza films, film noir, or Japanese cinema.

What can I say about a blu-ray Criterion black and white Japanese yakuza film so well executed that I have to watch it over and over? What can I say about purposely semi-overblown whites melting into grays and the blackest of blacks to create an magnificently incredible viewing experience? Nothing. Of course one has to appreciate film to appreciate this type of film. Don't get this one if you enjoy vhs or have ADD- it's not very long, but you just won't get it. If you are new to this type of film and you can handle subtitles you need to see this....

Pale Flower tells the story of a lonely Yakuza who has just been paroled from a three year bit for murder. Upon his return from prison he meets a mysterious and beautiful young women who frequents the clandestine gambling rooms he spends evenings at. Their platonic relationship is the basis of the plot. The film looks outstanding on the new Criterion Blu-ray edition. The folks at Criterion have performed the usual extensive restoration work that they are famous for, giving this new High definition transfer a pristine presentation. (1080P) The brilliant score by composer Toru Takemitsu has never sounded better. (LPCM 1.0 Japanese audio) A selection of useful supplements round out this impressive new edition of this classic Yakuza film.

This is an easy recommendation.

The shots of Tokyo that open up Pale Flower are fairly stunning. Pale Flower has great musical score and several nice set pieces set in the Japanese Underworld of the early sixties. I especially liked the horse racing sequence where the droll Yakuza bosses play chess with other people's lives brief though it is. Get out your checklist: Yakuza/Gangster/ Amor Fou/ Stark Cinematography. If those are on your sheet you probably will enjoy Pale Flower.

The extras are a little scant for a Criterion release (hence the deduction of a star) but the transfer and restoration are quite pristine.

Tokyo's underworld of drugs, drag-racing, gambling and the doomed love of an ex con and a mysterious woman collide in PALE FLOWER (Home Vision Entertainment). Masahiro Shinoda's Yakuza tale reflects much of the meticulous Jean-Pierre Melville style but stands on its own. In stark black and white with a cooly twisted score by Toru Takemitsu.