Waltzing with Brando is the unlikely, little-known, and entirely true story of how Marlon Brando—arguably the most famous man in the world—plucked Bernard “Bernie” Judge, an obscure yet idealistic Los Angeles architect, from his stable, predictable life and convinced him that together they could achieve the impossible. Their mission: to create the world’s first ecologically perfect retreat on Tetiaroa, a tiny and uninhabitable atoll in Tahiti. Driven by Brando’s vision, this grand ecological experiment was intended to inspire the world to embrace a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Told through Judge’s perspective, the film reveals Brando as an idiosyncratic, surprisingly vulnerable, and layered man—a mercurial dreamer caught between his love for fame and his longing for a peaceful, idyllic existence. As Brando wrestles with his own contradictions, Judge quickly discovers that beating nature at its own game is no simple task. What begins as an ambitious dream soon becomes a comedy of errors, with everything that can go wrong inevitably doing so. Hurricanes, financial woes, local bureaucracy, and the relentless challenges of designing for an untamed paradise test their resolve at every turn.

As Judge, the pragmatic problem solver, and Brando, the eccentric visionary, forge ahead, their journey transforms into an incredible adventure filled with free love, strained relationships, ghostly encounters, and the forging of an unlikely friendship. The stunning visuals of Tahiti’s unspoiled paradise provide a backdrop for a film that is as captivating and hilarious as it is poignant. Brando’s volatile genius and Judge’s quiet determination illuminate the universal themes of ambition, resilience, and the pursuit of harmony with nature.

Set primarily between 1969 and 1974, the film unfolds against the backdrop of Brando’s iconic performances in The Godfather and Last Tango in Paris. Written and directed by Bill Fishman (Tapeheads, Car 54, Where Are You?), and based on Bernard Judge’s memoir, Waltzing with Brando features a career-defining performance by Billy Zane (Titanic) as Marlon Brando and Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite, Blades of Glory) in a charming turn as Bernard Judge. The stellar ensemble cast includes Camille Razat (Emily in Paris) as the enigmatic Michelle, James Jagger (Vinyl) as the passionate Zeke Knight, Alaina Huffman (Stargate Universe) as Dana, Judge’s steadfast wife, Rob Corddry (Hot Tub Time Machine) as Jack Bellin, Tia Carrere (Wayne’s World) as Madame Leroy, and Richard Dreyfuss (The Goodbye Girl) as Brando’s financial advisor, Seymour Kraft.

The film not only entertains with its fascinating characters and humorous misadventures but also addresses pressing modern issues such as climate change, environmental preservation, and eco-tourism. Through the lens of Brando’s fluctuating finances and his dogged pursuit of sustainability, Waltzing with Brando delivers a poignant and timely message about our relationship with nature. 

Equal parts inspiring, hilarious, and thought-provoking, the film offers a unique look at one man’s dream to change the world—and the extraordinary lengths he went to in pursuit of paradise.