New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/15/2015 -- Haikus on a Plum Tree tells the story of an Italian family who were among the few Europeans imprisoned in a war camp in Japan during World War II.  The Maraini family is not only notable for their survival, but because they are a family of internationally renowned writers and intellectuals who continue to have an active  role in Italy's cultural fabric today (see Author Dacia Maraini, Anthropologist Fosco Maraini). Director Mujah Maraini-Melehi provides a unique perspective on this story because she is part of that family.  Her mother was the youngest of the three children in the camp.  The film blends documentary, puppetry and personal family history to create a unique experience for viewers.  Now, Maraini-Melehi and her team have launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the collaboration with acclaimed artist and puppeteer Basil Twist.

"The incredible story in Haikus on a Plum Tree will resonate with all audiences because in the unfolding of theses specific events, we all recognize our own stories of family, identity, memory, courage, survival, and overcoming the wounds of the past," says Maraini-Melehi.  She began the project in 2003 by interviewing her own grandmother, Princess Topazia Alliata, who is now 101 years old.  Through Topazia's eyes, Maraini-Melehi realized the universal quality of this story and decided to take it beyond Italy and Europe.    The war diary kept by the director's grandmother is the only known and published account of an Italian woman in one of those camps, which makes this a subject of historical importance for anyone interested in finding out more about European civilians in Japanese prison camps during WWII.

Located at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/haikus-maraini-doc/haikus-on-a-plum-tree?ref=nav_search , the Kickstarter campaign offers pledge levels ranging from $10 to $10,000 and perks ranging from early information on filming, unpublished manuscripts, and autographed books to the chance to be listed as an associate producer and an opening-night dinner with the producer, director and co-writer of the film.  For more information on the specific perks associated with each pledge level, visit the Kickstarter page.

About Haikus on a Plum Tree
Haikus on a Plum Tree tells the story of an Italian family's imprisonment in a war camp in Japan during World War II, and their 2 year survival before they were liberated by the U.S army.  Now, director Mujah Maraini-Melehi and her team have launched a Kickstarter campaign in order to raise funds for their collaboration with acclaimed artist, puppeteer Basil Twist.

Contact:
Contact Person: Mujah Maraini-Melehi
Company: Haikus on a Plum Tree
Address: New York, New York, United States
Email: mujah@me.com
Phone: 00 39 333 414 7727 (Italy)/ 917-353-2175 (U.S)
Website: http://haikusonaplumtree.com