Acclaimed American actor Willem Dafoe is taking on the persona of a powerful Greek tycoon in his latest film, even learning the traditional zeibekiko dance for the role. A newly released promotional video showcases the Hollywood star executing the dramatic, deeply expressive dance steps to a track performed by legendary Greek singer Giorgos Margaritis.
The film, titled The Birthday Party, is based on the novel of the same name by Panos Karnezis and draws direct inspiration from the tempestuous life of shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. The movie recently celebrated its premiere at Athens’ historic Aigli Zappiou cinema, an event Dafoe attended in person.
Coinciding with the film’s release, the production launched a featured song from the soundtrack titled “Archipelagos 2,” a soulful laïko track voiced by Margaritis that sets the tone for Dafoe‘s dance sequence.
Willem Dafoe stars in a film inspired by Onassis
Set in the late 1970s on a secluded island in the Ionian Sea, The Birthday Party centers on Marco Timoleon, an ultra-wealthy tycoon who throws a lavish, no-expense-spared birthday bash for his only daughter and sole heiress, Sofia.
As the night unfolds, the private island fills with a mix of glamorous friends, powerful business associates, and faces from the past. Behind the luxury and celebration lies a web of hidden agendas, as the guests view the party as the ultimate opportunity to manipulate Marco and advance their own high-stakes interests.
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