Joe Pesci makes a powerful return to the screen in “Day of the Fight”, a film that deeply resonates with him. “It breaks my heart,” he shared about the emotional impact of the project.

Joe Pesci is stepping back into the spotlight.

Nearly 45 years after his iconic role in Raging Bull, the Oscar-winning actor is making his return to acting in a very different kind of boxing film: Day of the Fight. The film, set to hit theaters in major cities on Friday, is a poignant drama about Mikey (played by Michael Pitt), a former world champion who seeks redemption after a tragic drunk-driving accident lands him in prison.

In the film, Mikey attempts to reconcile with his ex-wife (Nicolette Robinson) and former trainer (Ron Perlman), while also visiting his father (Pesci), a musician suffering from Alzheimer’s in a nursing home. The emotional confrontation between father and son, where Mikey confronts years of abuse and neglect, is a heart-wrenching and wordless performance by Pesci, 81. The actor’s last film appearance was in Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman in 2019.

The role was written specifically for Pesci by Day of the Fight director Jack Huston, who knew the film wouldn’t receive funding without a big name. He ambitiously pitched the story to Pesci’s long-time producing partner, Jai Stefan.

“He said, ‘Kid, you’re crazy. Joe turns down everything, but I’ll give it a try,’” Huston recalls. To his surprise, Pesci responded positively to the script and suggested they meet for martinis to discuss the project.

“Landing Joe was like catching the white whale,” Huston says. “The film wouldn’t have been possible without him. I owe him everything.” In Day of the Fight, Joe Pesci delivers a heartbreaking performance without speaking a word, accompanied only by a jazz song.

Huston, 42, a first-time filmmaker with a background in acting, was understandably nervous about directing the legendary Goodfellas star. However, Pesci quickly eased his nerves by taking a thoughtful approach to the role. Before filming, he consulted a neurologist to accurately portray the behaviors of a dementia patient. Huston also shared his own experience with an estranged father, while Pesci spoke about his relationship with his mother during her final days. This exchange of personal stories added depth to the film’s complex father-son dynamic. “There was a genuine mutual respect,” Huston recalls. “He was a dream to work with; it was one of those moments where you’re capturing magic.”

Huston also drew inspiration from his own experience caring for his grandmother, who suffered from early-onset dementia. “Sometimes, playing music for her would help bring her back into the moment and give her fleeting moments of clarity,” he remembers. This memory led to one of the film’s most emotional scenes: Before leaving the nursing home, Mikey plays one of his father’s old vinyl records. Slowly, Pesci’s character begins to show recognition, his eyes filling with tears.

The song featured in this scene is a cover of Jimmy Scott’s jazz classic “If I Ever Lost You,” which Pesci recorded for his 2019 album Still Singing.

This led to one of the film’s most emotionally powerful moments: As Mikey prepares to leave the nursing home, he plays one of his father’s old vinyl records. Gradually, Pesci’s character shows signs of recognition, with his eyes lighting up and filling with tears.

The song is a cover of Jimmy Scott’s jazz classic If I Ever Lost You, which Pesci recorded for his 2019 album Still Singing. Day of the Fight was emotionally significant for Huston in other ways as well. Coming from a legacy of Hollywood icons, Huston is the nephew of actress Anjelica Huston (Prizzi’s Honor) and the grandson of two-time Academy Award winner John Huston (The Treasure of the Sierra Madre). For this film, he cast his son, Cypress, to play the younger version of Mikey. “It hit me on set that he’s actually the fifth generation of my family on screen,” Huston reflects. “There’s a real beauty in coming from a family of storytellers. I never felt like I was in anyone’s shadow – I’ve been blessed with the guidance of these incredible people, who have always been pillars of support. It’s such a fortunate thing.”