Manlio is a man constantly haunted by the past. Ever since that fateful morning in May 1974, his life has been deeply scarred. Big in Japan follows his journey—a man transported into an alternate reality, cut off from his present life and forced to face the ghosts of his trauma. His only hope is to overcome the tragedy that has defined his existence, a tragedy rooted in the unhealed, dark wound of unpunished right-wing terrorism. Stranded on the 20th floor of a towering Tokyo hotel, Manlio waits for the past to strike again, clinging to the futile illusion that something he lost might be returned in exchange for all his suffering. It’s an emotional journey that pushes him to chase his demons and try to repair the broken threads of his history. Through evocative and gripping storytelling, Big in Japan takes us on an intimate and intense journey, where the protagonist confronts the shadows of his past while seeking freedom from the prison of memory. It is a story of resilience and hope, showing how one can find the strength to face haunting ghosts and seek light in the deepest darkness.

Big in Japan, based on a true story, was created to tell the tale of an impossible encounter, brought to life through the courage, imagination, and extraordinary humanity of Manlio. I’ve spent much of my life in courtrooms, starting as a child, and when I first heard Manlio’s story, I realized he was searching for something beyond the legal procedures I knew so well. He sought something that could mend the pieces of a profound fracture—both personal and collective. I knew I had to tell his story..

Director
Enrico Maisto
Story
Enrico Maisto
Screenplay
Enrico Maisto, Marco Pettenello
Altri credits

Francesca Riccardi (Responsabile Sviluppo)

Producer
Riccardo Annoni, Salvatore Pecoraro
Production
Start
con il sostegno di Film Commission Torino Piemonte - Piemonte Film Tv Development Fund - giugno 2023
Last update: 15 November 2024