The Birthday Party

What it’s about

In the late 1970s, on a private island in the Mediterranean, wealthy magnate Marcos Timoleon hosts an extravagant birthday party for his daughter Sofia. The event draws friends and associates who see it as a chance to ask favours or settle their own affairs. Marcos himself is preparing for a decision that will shape his daughter's future, while Sofia carries a secret and an agenda of her own. As the night grows wilder, the family conflict surfaces.

What hooks you

Willem Dafoe plays Marcos, and he has said he did not model the role on any single real person but aimed to capture the spirit of the 1970s and the mindset of billionaires of that era who sought political connections, power, and resources. The film was shot on the island of Corfu and in Athens.

Who it’s for

It is a good pick for those who enjoy character-driven family conflict set against a glamorous Mediterranean backdrop, with tension that builds through a single night of celebration.