Upon release from prison for murder, Muraki (Ryo Ikebe) feels like he has moved from one cage to another. He knows his sentence was the price for being a gang hitman, but was taking the lives of these men, who were already enveloped in despair, truly worth it? Muraki likes gambling; its demands for focus, tension, and unpredictability are his sole proof of being alive. When all seems unchangeable, Muraki encounters Saeko (Mariko Kaga), a mysterious woman equally obsessed with gambling, who reveals no emotion and is indifferent about the results. Adapted from Shintaro Ishihara's novel of the same title, Pale Flower is an extraordinary “film noir”. Though produced by a major studio, it possesses the rebellious spirit of avant-garde art. Cinematographer Masao Kosugi's impeccably composed frames and lighting draw inspiration from Toru Takemitsu's experimental approach to music and sound design (such as the rhythmic clash of flower playing cards layered with tap-dancing sounds). Ryo Ikebe, who then at the nadir of his acting career (which became a turning point for him) was casted. In the final scene, Henry Purcell's aria was deployed to set the stage for a ‘mission’. The ‘climax’ was somehow an emptiness caused by the breaking of moral codes. No wonder, after the test screening, Shochiku executives felt uneasy, shelving the film for months before its release. Nevertheless, Pale Flower still caused a sensation and became another important work of the Japanese New Wave.
Date and time:
(1) 23/11/2025 (Sun) 19:50
(2) 7/12/2025 (Sun) 19:40 ^with pre-screening introduction, conducting in Cantonese.
Passion Against Obstacles - Prominent films from Japanese New Wave
The emergence of the “Japanese New Wave” marked a change in Japan's film industry in the 1960s—major studios reduced production, independent filmmaking rose, and more artistically radical works were self-produced and distributed. This liberated Japanese cinema enriched its themes and forms, and made it more diverse. Although Ko Nakahira's Crazed Fruit (1956) and Yasuzo Masumura's Kisses (1957) foreshadowed the impending upheaval, it wasn't until 1960, the release of Naked Youth, the industry truly felt the shockwave. A tidal wave of a new generation rolled in. In a present where the future is unclear and moral standards are chaotic, it is time to revisit how cinema has used wisdom and courage to confront adversity, and carve out new paths amidst the chaos.
Honkaz Fung (Curator)
Ticket price:
Regular: HK$95, MCL MAX Members: HK$85, Children / Full-time students / Elderly: HK$75
(1) 23/11/2025 (Sun) 19:50
(2) 7/12/2025 (Sun) 19:40 ^with pre-screening introduction, conducting in Cantonese.
(1) 29/11/2025(Sat) 18:35
(2) 6/12/2025 (Sat) 18:35
(1) 28/11/2025 (Fri) 19:20 *with post-screening sharing, conducting in Cantonese
(2) 5/12/2025 (Fri) 19:50
