Festivals: The Birthday Party (2025) by Miguel Ángel Jiménez: A Tyrant's Last Stand

A Family's Dysfunctional Drama Based on the 2007 novel by Panos Karnezis, The Birthday Party is a 2025 drama film by Spanish director Miguel Ángel Jiménez. The story centers on Markos Timoleon (Willem Dafoe), a powerful Greek shipping magnate, as he hosts a lavish 25th birthday party for his daughter, Sofia (Vic Carmen Sonne), on his private island in the 1970s. What seems like a celebratory event is, in fact, a calculated trap. Markos, who is based on the real-life tycoon Aristotle Onassis, uses the party to confront Sofia about her secret relationship with his biographer (Joe Cole) and to orchestrate events that will secure his legacy and control over her life, regardless of the cost.

Why to watch this movie: A Tense Exploration of Power and Family This film is a must-see for its intense psychological drama and captivating performances.

• A commanding lead performance by Willem Dafoe: Dafoe's portrayal of the sinister, almost inhuman tycoon is what grounds the film. He fully embodies the aging elite, and his presence alone commands the screen. Critics have noted that his performance is the main reason to watch the film, as he exudes a menacing control that is both fascinating and unsettling.

• A compelling and relevant story: The film explores timeless themes of wealth, power, and family dysfunction in a modern context. It provides a sharp critique of the privileged class and the quiet violence that exists within their world, which resonates deeply with current anxieties about wealth disparity and corruption.

• Stylish and beautiful cinematography: The film's setting—a decadent private island in the Mediterranean—is beautifully shot, creating a visually stunning backdrop for the dark and claustrophobic events that unfold. The aesthetic choices contribute to the film's tense and unsettling atmosphere.

Where to watch: Release date on streaming: HBO Europe and HBO Max Following its theatrical run, the film is set to be released on HBO Europe and HBO Max.

Theatrical Release: 7 August 2025 The film had its world premiere at the Locarno Film Festival on August 7, 2025.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33269988/

About movie: https://heretic.gr/film/birthday-party/

What Trend is followed?: The 'Legacy Film' The Birthday Party follows the recent trend of films that explore the dark side of wealth and the often-destructive nature of legacy.

• Critique of the super-rich: The film joins a trend of recent movies and TV shows that peel back the glamorous facade of the ultra-wealthy to reveal their moral and emotional decay. It's a critique of a class that believes itself to be above the law and human decency.

• Focus on patriarchal control: The movie's central conflict revolves around an aging patriarch's obsession with controlling his daughter's life and his bloodline. This narrative is a strong commentary on how power and a desire for legacy can be toxic and destructive, particularly for those caught in its wake.

Director's Vision: Unmasking the Ugly Underbelly of Privilege Miguel Ángel Jiménez's vision is to strip away the glamour of wealth and expose the psychological ugliness underneath.

• A character-driven nightmare: The director's goal is to focus on the human drama and emotional stakes rather than the backstory. By confining the narrative to a single, chaotic day, he creates a pressure cooker environment where the characters' true natures are revealed, shifting the film from a drama to a grim and unsettling psychological thriller in its final act.

• Moral ambiguity and voyeurism: Jiménez encourages the audience to "people-watch" and observe the subtle power dynamics at play. He presents a world of voyeurism and surveillance, where the characters' public personas are a carefully crafted lie and their private lives are a source of manipulation and control.

Themes: Power, Control, and the Cost of Legacy The film is rich with a variety of themes that explore the dark side of the human condition.

• Power and Possession: The film's central theme is the concept of power, not just in the economic sense but as a tool for personal control. Markos views his family, particularly his daughter, as possessions to be manipulated and controlled to serve his own legacy.

• The Illusion of Strength: The movie explores how wealth and power can create a false sense of invincibility. It reveals that beneath the layers of privilege, the characters are deeply flawed, vulnerable, and fragile. The illusion of strength is ultimately broken by the raw human emotion that they desperately try to suppress.

• Quiet Violence: The violence in the film is not always physical; it's often a quiet, psychological violence that Markos inflicts on his family. This subtle form of abuse, manipulation, and emotional blackmail is a key theme, highlighting the insidious nature of toxic family dynamics.

Key success factors: An Unforgettable Performance and Timely Critique The film's success is driven by its lead actor and its biting social commentary.

• Willem Dafoe's performance: The consensus among critics is that Dafoe's masterful portrayal of the sinister and emotionally detached tycoon is the film's greatest asset. His performance is a tour de force that commands attention.

• The film's timeless relevance: By tackling themes of wealth, power, and family corruption, the movie remains highly relevant. It resonates with a public that is increasingly distrustful of the ultra-rich and is interested in narratives that expose their moral failings.

• Effective use of a confined setting: By setting the entire film on a private island, the director creates a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere. The "paradise" of the island becomes a gilded cage, trapping the characters in their own misery and toxic dynamics.

Awards and Nominations: Premiered at the Locarno Film Festival The Birthday Party had its world premiere at the 78th Locarno Film Festival on August 7, 2025, where it was screened in the prestigious Piazza Grande. It was also shown at the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival. The film's trailer was released on September 5, 2025.

Critics Reception: Flawed but Mesmerizing Critical reception was mixed, but many reviewers were captivated by the film's visuals and Dafoe's performance.

• OutNow.CH: This review found the film to be in a "tedious genre no-man's-land," arguing that it was not emotional enough for a drama, nor funny enough for a satire, and provided too little insight for a psychodrama. However, it did praise Willem Dafoe's acting.

• PopMatters: The review praised the film for "depict[ing] ugliness beautifully," and highlighted its "moody and even haunting cinematography." It noted that the film succeeds in its examination of power and surveillance, even if it risks alienating audiences with its "tired and worn" family dysfunction tropes.

• Micropsia: This reviewer noted that while Dafoe "steals the show," the film "loses steam" outside of his performance, with mediocre dialogue and uninteresting characters. It was ultimately seen as an "entertaining tale of wealthy excess" and an "elegantly shot" film, worth watching mainly for Dafoe.

Overall, critics found the film to be a visually stunning character study that, while sometimes losing its narrative focus, is consistently saved by a mesmerizing and powerful performance from its lead actor.

Reviews: A Tense and Unsettling Experience Audience and general reviews for The Birthday Party were largely positive, with viewers being drawn in by the film's tense atmosphere and engaging drama.

• Audience Reviews (general sentiment): Viewers were often captivated by the psychological tension that builds throughout the film. They found the plot compelling and were impressed by Dafoe's portrayal of a truly villainous character. The film's unique setting and visual style were also frequently praised.

• Social Media Commentary: The film sparked conversations on social media about its themes of wealth and power. Many viewers drew parallels to real-life figures, and Dafoe's intense performance was a frequent topic of discussion.

Overall, reviews indicate that the film resonated with audiences who appreciated its dark and psychologically complex story.

What Movie Trend film is following: The 'Eat the Rich' Subgenre The Birthday Party is a perfect example of the "Eat the Rich" subgenre of film, which has been gaining significant momentum. This trend includes films like Parasite, The Menu, and Glass Onion, all of which use a combination of thriller, comedy, and drama to critique the excesses and moral bankruptcy of the ultra-wealthy.

What Big Social Trend is following: Anti-Oligarch Sentiment The film taps into a growing global social trend of anti-oligarch sentiment. As wealth inequality continues to grow, there is increasing public resentment toward the super-rich and their perceived unaccountability. The movie mirrors this anxiety by portraying a powerful tycoon who believes he is beyond the reach of consequence, a figure who the audience is meant to despise.

Final Verdict: A Mesmerizing Glimpse into the Gilded Cage While perhaps not a perfect film, The Birthday Party is a captivating and psychologically intense drama that succeeds on the strength of its artistic vision and a chilling, career-defining performance from Willem Dafoe. It's a visually beautiful film that delves into the ugly side of humanity, and its focus on the moral decay of the ultra-wealthy is both timely and unsettling. It is a must-watch for fans of character-driven thrillers and those who appreciate a powerful critique of class and power dynamics.