Ali, a misplaced soul who ends up in the middle of the Arizona desert, looking for his wife meets up with a Japanese traveller and a young American girl. They embark on a journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening.

The Big River; a metaphor for the vast American landscape and in particular the rugged Arizona dessert, is a moving character driven film that allows the actors to convey a deeper look inside the souls of their characters. Written and directed by Astushi Funahashi, the film also has Japanese star Jo Odagari and American actress Chloe Snyder in the cast.

Produced by Office Kaitano, a leading production house of the Japanese film industry, this marks the world premier for the film. Pusan International Film Festival, held in South Korea, is considered the leading festival of Asia and is among the top festivals in the world. The festival takes place in October 2005.