Hollywood star Willem Dafoe has gone viral after showcasing an authentic Greek zeibekiko dance in his upcoming film The Birthday Party, a screen adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Panos Karnezis.
The film boasts an impressive international cast, including several Greek actors, with Dafoe taking on the lead role. One of the production’s standout moments sees the Oscar-nominated actor performing a powerful zeibekiko to the song Archipelagos II, performed by Giorgos Margaritis.
According to the filmmakers, Dafoe approached the role with remarkable dedication, immersing himself in the history, symbolism, emotion, and choreography of the iconic Greek dance. In addition to mastering the zeibekiko, he also delivers lines in Greek.
Set in the 1970s, The Birthday Party follows Timoleon, a charismatic shipping magnate who organizes an extravagant birthday celebration for his daughter and sole heir, Sophia, played by Vic Carmen Sonne.
The story unfolds over the course of 24 hours on the billionaire’s private island, where the lavish festivities provide the perfect backdrop for business associates, allies, and opportunists to pursue their own hidden agendas.
