The Three Strings——Exploring Dazai

At the invitation of West Feast , the writer Gouzi, the folk singer Lao Lang and the director of this film Tang Danian set out to explore Osamu Dazai, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of this Japanese Buraiha（ぶらいは）writer’s death.
They roamed the places where Osamu Dazai’s footprints went, from Mitaka and Kichijioji in Tokyo where Osamu Dazai lived, to his hometown Aomori and the famous Shayokan (House of Setting Sun), where the writer was born, and Kamakura, where the writer tried to kill himself for several times. They visited Haruko Ota, the writer’s illegitimate daughter, known as "the Child of the Setting Sun". Along they drank, walked and talked, about Osamu Dazai, wine, literature, women and death, with various disputes and conflicts. This journey of exploring turned out to be everyone’s inner pursuit of seeing himself in the fog of Osamu Dazai.

  • Danian TANG
    Director
    Jade (2000); City Paradise (2001); Adolescence (2006); Miss Mom(2020) ；Hiding in the Dark (as Producer, 2016)
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    三味线——寻找太宰治
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Genres:
    Arts
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 52 minutes 36 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 31, 2020
  • Country of Origin:
    China
  • Country of Filming:
    Japan
  • Language:
    Japanese, Mandarin Chinese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • CNEX
    Sales Agent
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Danian TANG

Tang Danian, Director, Screenwriter and Producer. Graduated from Beijing Film Academy in 1989, majored in Screenwriting.

Screenwriting credits include: Good morning, Beijing (1990); Beijing Bastards (1993); City Paradise (2001); Beijing Bicycle (2001); Caught in the Web (2012). Directing and producing credits include: Jade (2000); City Paradise (2001); Adolescence (2006); Miss Mom(2020) ；Hiding in the Dark (as Producer, 2016) TV drama credits include: The last thing I want is love (2004); I am Your Son (2009); Wen Sankuai, the Magnificent Doctor (2010); Fortress Garden (2014), etc.

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Director Statement

Osamu Dazai left our world in a way he prefers - suicide. We tried to explore him 70 years later, expecting to get closer to him in a deeper and more grounded way. Whereas perhaps there may be no real Osamu Dazai to be found at all, what we were trying to do is to create a scenario in which we can talk about Osamu Dazai, talk about ourselves, and to get a sense of being alive, which is a matter of question.