Juan Carlos Copes and Maria Nieves Rego are the Fred and Ginger of Argentine tango. In this beautifully photographed film brimming with stunning dance sequences, Juan and Maria recount their complicated history over several decades. Starting out in the 1950s, Juan had a vision to turn his country’s dance into an international phenomenon. He accomplished that dream with Maria as his dance partner in the Broadway hit Tango Argentina and other traveling shows. Yet behind the scenes, their relationship was tumultuous. “I would have done it all the same way,” says Maria, “only without Juan.”
Argentine director German Kral takes an inventive approach to evoking Juan and Maria’s early days by casting young dancers to portray them in artful recreations reminiscent of the work of executive producer Wim Wenders. Now in their eighties, Juan and Maria are still dancing, only no longer together. Our Last Tango explores what it means to pursue your passion—and how crucial it is to find the right partner. – Thom Powers