Adrien Brody, Rachel Zegler lead Karim Aïnouz's 'Last Dance' — first Brody film since Oscar win
Synopsis
Adrien Brody returns to cinema in Karim Aïnouz's 'Last Dance,' a poignant father-daughter story set aboard a 1991 Caribbean gay cruise, where joy and resilience collide with the shadow of the AIDS crisis. With Rachel Zegler singing and Ben Platt composing, the film transforms a personal memoir into a universal portrait of love, loss, and chosen family during history's most devastating epidemic.
Key Takeaways
Adrien Brody and Rachel Zegler star in 'Last Dance' , directed by Karim Aïnouz .
The film is Brody's first major role since winning his second Best Actor Oscar for 'The Brutalist' .
Story follows a Broadway composer and his daughter on a 1991 Caribbean cruise as the AIDS crisis deepens.
Zegler performs original songs; Ben Platt composes music and co-stars.
Adapted from Emily Ziff Griffin's 2021 autobiographical New Yorker article.
Adrien Brody and Rachel Zegler are set to star in 'Last Dance', a father-daughter drama directed by Brazilian filmmaker Karim Aïnouz, marking the Oscar-winning actor's first major film role since winning his second Best Actor Academy Award for 'The Brutalist'. The project, adapted from Emily Ziff Griffin's 2021 autobiographical New Yorker article of the same name, also features Tony, Emmy, and Grammy-winning performer Ben Platt in a supporting role and composing original music.
Plot and setting
The film follows Elliot, a celebrated Broadway composer played by Brody, who invites his daughter Emma (Zegler) on a Caribbean gay cruise in 1991. Set against a backdrop of music, celebration, and chosen family, Emma — the only straight woman aboard — experiences an unexpected first love with a young crew member. However, the narrative takes a darker turn as the AIDS crisis casts an increasingly heavy shadow, forcing father and daughter to confront unspoken truths and cherish their remaining time together.
Zegler's dual role
Fresh off her Olivier Award-winning performance in the West End revival of 'Evita', Zegler will both act and perform original songs written for the film. Ben Platt will contribute additional original compositions, deepening the musical dimension of the narrative.
Director's vision
Aïnouz framed the project as a celebration of resilience during one of the LGBTQ+ community's darkest chapters.
Point of View
And by casting a major male star in a role of emotional vulnerability, Aïnouz signals a maturation in how cinema approaches queer history. The 1991 Caribbean setting — a moment of defiant joy amid catastrophe — reframes the crisis not as victimhood but as a crucible of solidarity and resilience. Whether the film sustains that tonal balance across two hours remains to be seen.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Last Dance' about?
'Last Dance' is a father-daughter drama set in 1991 aboard a Caribbean gay cruise. It follows Elliot, a Broadway composer played by Adrien Brody, and his daughter Emma (Rachel Zegler) as they navigate unexpected love, chosen family, and the deepening shadow of the AIDS crisis.
Is this Adrien Brody's first film since winning his second Oscar?
Yes. 'Last Dance' marks Adrien Brody's first major film role since he won his second Best Actor Academy Award for 'The Brutalist.'
What is the film based on?
The screenplay, written by Emily Ziff Griffin, is adapted from her 2021 autobiographical New Yorker article titled 'The Last Dance with My Dad.'
Who else stars in the film?
Ben Platt, a Tony, Emmy, and Grammy-winning performer, co-stars and composes original music. Rachel Zegler, fresh off her Olivier Award-winning performance in 'Evita,' also performs original songs in the film.
Who is directing 'Last Dance'?
Brazilian filmmaker Karim Aïnouz is directing the film. Aïnouz described it as a portrait of queer resilience during the AIDS crisis, where 'joy is taken up as resilience' and 'the dance floor becomes a pièce de résistance.'
