Fan CastingFalling Petals: The Life of Osamu Dazai

Set against the tumultuous backdrop of early 20th-century Japan, Falling Petals is a riveting biopic chronicling the life of Shūji Tsushima, better known to the world as Osamu Dazai, one of Japan’s most enigmatic and tortured literary geniuses. This film explores Dazai’s complex journey from the privileged scion of an aristocratic family to the celebrated author of No Longer Human and The Setting Sun, works that resonated with postwar despair and existential yearning. The story delves deep into Dazai’s troubled psyche, his unrelenting battle with addiction, depression, and self-destruction, and his complicated relationships—with women, his art, and himself. At the heart of the narrative is the question: How does a man so consumed by inner turmoil create works of profound beauty and humanity? From his rebellious university days and failed suicide attempts to his volatile romances and the devastating cultural aftermath of World War II, the film offers a raw, poetic, and unflinching portrait of a man teetering on the edge. Dazai’s legacy is brought to life through vivid reimaginings of his works, woven seamlessly into the narrative to reflect his inner struggles and creative brilliance.