A shy retiring single mom learns that she has a brother that was abandoned in 1945 and now grown up, is a member of the Yakuza in Japan. She also learns that her French father had secreted his art collection in a Buddhist monastery to save it from the Nazis. Our”mom” loses her job, is joined by a buddy and the three of them take on the Yakuza, rescue both the brother and the art works.The fortune and family are safe and intake.
“VINCENT’S BUTTERFLY”
An interesting premise for senior actors!
Consider the following:
When is your story set? In 2022, your protag is 65+ and her brother is 70+?
You would think the brother would be a Yakuza Family Head or some senior member by now. Since this is the only family he’s known, I did a double-take on the rescue plot.
Which Major Event (Art/Brother) is her call to action? My vote is the art and to keep the brother discovery plot in the shadows until ACT II.
What is the connecting tissue between the Buddhist Monastery and the Yakuza?
Workshopping the structure:
When discovering [WWII secreted family art], retired Japanese American sets out to [Japanese Buddhist monastery] with a group of courageous seniors on a hail marry mission to reclaim her inheritance/fortune under the protection of the infamous Tokyo mafia/Yakuza gang”
The B story can be the brother e.g., brother turns from the dark side to help sis, Yakuza wants the spoils and them dead.
Hope you find this constructive, make this yours – keep going!
*Hail Mary