Pale Flower is one of the most haunting noirs I've seen, and something more; in 1964 it was an important work in an emerging Japanese New Wave of independent filmmakers, an exercise in existential cool.

[Ryô] Ikebe's difficulty in memorizing dialogue had shaken the industry's faith in him--and his faith in himself--but Shinoda knew he could get the job done in light of his "erotic and graceful presence," and Ikebe fully rewards the filmmaker's faith.

Pale Flower is a ‘seductive’ nihilistic masterpiece that explores the unescapable subjective problems created by the rhythmic capitalistic machinery.

Stylishly shot and superbly acted, Masahiro Shinodas film is an exhilarating descent into the underworld.