Just for the young Mariko Kaga aged 21, Pale Flower is a must. She's playing a very complex character, her lovely face is half juvenile, half wild and sexy. She teams with a handsome yakusa much older than her, the cool Ryo Ikebe, very quiet and well-dressed. Eveything is perfect in this slow paced and atmospheric film noir, black and white cinematography, music, and a special mention to editing with so many spying glances.