Budapest, 1944. Giorgio Perlasca, an Italian meat trader, is wanted by the SS. His guilt is that he did not join the Salò Republic. To the Germans he is a traitor and must pay for it.
In a pocket of his jacket is a letter signed by Spanish General Francisco Franco inviting him, in case of need, to present himself at any Spanish embassy.
Within minutes he becomes Jorge Perlasca and puts himself at the service of Ambassador Sanz Briz to save as many Jews as possible from deportation. When Sanz Briz, for political reasons, is forced to leave Budapest, Perlasca unduly assumes the role of ambassador of Spain.
In just 45 days, using extraordinary diplomatic skills and heroic courage, he spares the lives of at least 5,200 people. When the war is over, he returns to Italy and leads a very normal life, never feeling the need to tell his story except to a few intimates.
He lives in the shadows until 1988, when he is tracked down by a Hungarian Jewish couple who owe him their lives…