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Paper Flowers

Play trailer 1:57 Poster for Paper Flowers 1h 40m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Verified Ratings
Based on a true story, Paper Flowers follows Shalin Shah, a compassionate USC graduate who leaves behind the expectations of his Indian-American family and the life he has built with his longtime girlfriend Fiona, to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in Peru. Driven by a desire to make a meaningful difference, Shalin embraces the uncertainty of a path that feels wholly his own. But when a persistent cough leads to a devastating diagnosis of synovial sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer, Shalin is forced to return home and confront a future he never anticipated. Surrounded by his family, Fiona, and his closest friends, he begins to reconsider what it means to live with purpose when time can no longer be taken for granted. As Shalin's perspective deepens, his reflections on gratitude, love, and mortality inspire the essay "Thank You, Cancer," which is published by HuffPost and goes viral with readers around the world. A devastatingly beautiful story of family, resilience, and the lasting impact of one life, Paper Flowers is a reminder to cherish the people we love and the moments that give life meaning. #SunsetsForShalin

Cast & Crew

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Mahesh Pailoor

Director

Kapil Talwalkar

Shalin Shah

Olivia Liang

Fiona Chang

Karan Soni

Milan

Faran Tahir

Jay Shah

Meera Simhan

Reema Shah

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Critics Reviews

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Sabina Dana Plasse Film Threat 07/17/2024
7.5/10
A meaningful film that carries you to the end in peace and happiness for its grave subject matter. Go to Full Review Federico Furzan Movie-Blogger.com 07/01/2024
3.2/5
Paper Flowers complies with just about every rule in the book. The dos and don’ts of drama are perfectly checked in the formulaic film and questioning it means fighting the basics of a genre that’s meant to be fluid for the sake of the story. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
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Paper Flowers

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Paper Flowers

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Movie Info

Synopsis Based on a true story, Paper Flowers follows Shalin Shah, a compassionate USC graduate who leaves behind the expectations of his Indian-American family and the life he has built with his longtime girlfriend Fiona, to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in Peru. Driven by a desire to make a meaningful difference, Shalin embraces the uncertainty of a path that feels wholly his own. But when a persistent cough leads to a devastating diagnosis of synovial sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer, Shalin is forced to return home and confront a future he never anticipated. Surrounded by his family, Fiona, and his closest friends, he begins to reconsider what it means to live with purpose when time can no longer be taken for granted. As Shalin's perspective deepens, his reflections on gratitude, love, and mortality inspire the essay "Thank You, Cancer," which is published by HuffPost and goes viral with readers around the world. A devastatingly beautiful story of family, resilience, and the lasting impact of one life, Paper Flowers is a reminder to cherish the people we love and the moments that give life meaning. #SunsetsForShalin
Director
Mahesh Pailoor
Producer
Asit Vyas
Screenwriter
Mary Krell-Oishi, Mahesh Pailoor
Production Co
AV Entertainment Company
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 21, 2026, Limited
Runtime
1h 40m