— Synopsis

A Japanese trumpet player on a cultural pilgrimage to discover New York City jazz experiences a hell of a night after being lost in Brooklyn.

— Director’s Statement

Trumpet focuses on issues related to cultural boundaries, communication, integration, and a sense of belonging. For many tourists and immigrants, the USA still represents a land of opportunity where dreams come to life. And yet, the reality doesn’t always live up to these blissful expectations. As we’re often reminded these days, contemporary America is a nation increasingly marred by racial tensions and the fear of ‘the other’.

The story of our film unfolds in this distrustful climate. We wanted to show that, in what initially seems like an unwelcoming part of one of the world’s most recognizable cities, hope and humanity can be found through the binding power of music. The counterweight is given by Chioki our main protagonist lost far from home, and his take on the situation with romantic and dreamy eyes.

His nocturnal wanderings are punctuated by Jazz, the music born in America by oppressed people which takes us into different universes on the edge of wonderland, unifying people and breaking walls. That’s what lies at the core of Trumpet: it doesn’t matter if you don’t speak the language: communication and acceptance go beyond words. Just like Jazz.