Mikami, an ex-yakuza of middle age with most of his life in prison, gets released after serving 13 years of sentence for murder. Hoping to find his long lost mother, from whom he was separated as a child, he applies for a TV show and meets a young TV director Tsunoda. Meanwhile, he struggles to get a proper job and fit into society. His impulsive, adamant nature and ingrained beliefs cause friction in his relationship with Tsunoda and those who want to help him.

作为当今日本影视圈占有一席之地的青年实力派演员，山田孝之似乎并不满意目前所取得的成就。为此，他请来与之有过合作的导演山下敦弘，阐述了自己的想法：即山田本人担任制作人拍摄一部电影，最终目标则是勇夺国际三大电影节之一——戛纳电影节大奖。山田言出必践，率先成立了自己的公司。他计划将某个变态杀人狂的故事搬上银幕，而请来的主演居然是以“治愈”“可爱”为标签的童星芦田爱菜。这一连串不按常理出牌的神展开令山下导演瞠目结舌，但他还是被山田制作人绑架去了解日本电影市场、戛纳影展的流程、获奖的可能性，甚至还拍了一个样片四处“蒙骗”制作费。 不靠谱的企划逐渐成型，山田孝之的戛纳之梦近在咫尺……