"The Last Showgirl" at the 15th American Film Festival
Is it really the end? Only nominally. While the film tells the story of the end of a long career and the shattering of illusions after waking from the American dream, it also marks the brilliant return of Pamela Anderson. Although she never truly disappeared, her life has been unfairly overshadowed by media sensationalism. This film also marks the directorial comeback of Gia Coppola, who received the Special Jury Prize at the San Sebastián IFF for this latest work. We are thrilled to announce that The Last Showgirl, presented in partnership with Gutek Film, will be screened at the 15th American Film Festival (November 5–11).
Festival passes, as well as media and industry accreditations, are available for purchase until October 18 (or until the pool runs out).
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The Last Showgirl: a new beginning
Herstory is unfolding before our eyes. Coralie Fargeat has spilled The Substance, and with it a new opening in the discussion about the unhealthy obsession with youth and the unrealistic beauty standards perpetuated by the media. Gia Coppola ups the ante, examining how show business relegates even the biggest stars into the shadows as they age. Pamela Anderson – like Demi Moore in The Substance – proves that talent transcends time, while Coppola gives her the space to fully spread her acting wings.
Shelley (Pamela Anderson) has spent three decades performing as a dancer in a Las Vegas strip revue. She treats her work not only as a form of entertainment for the masses, but an art rooted in the rich tradition of French burlesque. Despite mastering her craft, the show's hosts decide to replace her with a younger, more “visually appealing” generation. Shelley then faces a dilemma: what’s next for her now that her greatest asset – her body – is no longer deemed desirable?
Coppola conducts the entire story in a subdued, careful manner, weaving in a parallel narrative that reflects Pamela Anderson's own experience – whose life is still viewed mainly through the prism of her physicality. Alongside Anderson, we’ll see the exceptional Jamie Lee Curtis and Dave Bautista, who is reopening his career after years in the Marvel universe.
