INTRODUCTION
The Phoenician Scheme is an espionage dark comedy film set to be released in 2025, crafted by the distinctive vision of Wes Anderson, who took on the roles of producer, writer, and director.
The narrative is based on a story that Anderson developed in collaboration with Roman Coppola.
This film boasts an impressive ensemble cast, featuring notable actors such as Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Mathieu Amalric, Richard Ayoade, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, F.
Murray Abraham, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Willem Dafoe, and Bill Murray.
As an international co-production between the United States and Germany, the film is brought to life through the efforts of Anderson’s production company, American Empirical Pictures, in partnership with Steven Rales’s Indian Paintbrush.
In June 2023, while promoting his film Asteroid City, Anderson discussed an upcoming project, noting that the script had been completed prior to the onset of the 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike.
By September of the same year, he announced plans to include renowned talents such as Guillermo del Toro and Michael Cera in the cast, expressing his intention to commence filming shortly after the conclusion of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.
The remaining cast members were confirmed between January and June 2024, leading to a productive filming schedule at Babelsberg Studio in Germany from March to June 2024, with the esteemed cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel at the helm.
Additionally, Anderson’s long-time collaborator, composer Alexandre Desplat, returned to create the film’s score, further enhancing the project’s artistic vision.
The Phoenician Scheme made its debut at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, where it was showcased in the main competition on May 18, 2025.
Following its world premiere, the film was released in theaters in Germany by Universal Pictures on May 29, 2025, and subsequently in the United States by Focus Features on May 30, 2025.
Upon its release, the film garnered a generally favorable reception from critics, who praised various aspects of its storytelling and production.
Plot
In 1950, the arms dealer and industrialist Anatole Zsa-Zsa Korda narrowly escapes an assassination attempt, leading him into a state of unconsciousness that transports him to the afterlife.
There, he finds himself before a divine court tasked with evaluating his moral worthiness for entry into Heaven.
Aware that he cannot evade his enemies indefinitely, Korda seeks to reconcile with his estranged daughter, Sister Liesl, who has devoted her life to the Catholic Church.
He implores her to abandon her religious commitments and assume control of his business empire.
Their relationship is fraught with tension, stemming from Korda’s decision to send Liesl to a convent at the tender age of five, coupled with the dark rumors surrounding the death of her mother, which Korda vehemently denies.
As Liesl grapples with her father’s request, she also encounters Bjørn, a Norwegian entomologist who serves as Korda’s administrative assistant, adding another layer of complexity to her already tumultuous life.
Governments across the globe are increasingly determined to put an end to Korda’s unethical business practices, which have drawn widespread condemnation.
A pivotal moment arises when Korda decides to gamble his entire fortune on a precarious initiative aimed at revamping the infrastructure of Phoenicia, a project that relies heavily on the exploitation of slave labor.
In response to this audacious plan, government agent Excalibur devises a strategy to artificially inflate the prices of essential building materials, a move that poses a significant threat to Korda’s financial stability and could potentially lead to his bankruptcy.
This calculated intervention not only seeks to undermine Korda’s operations but also serves as a broader effort to combat the systemic injustices associated with his business model.
Accompanied by Liesl and Bjørn, Korda engages with his investors in a duplicitous scheme aimed at securing additional funding.
He cunningly persuades Californians Leland and Reagan to endorse a contract that significantly raises their financial commitment, all while concealing the true nature of the amendment.
In a further display of his unscrupulous tactics, he resorts to blackmailing the notorious French gangster Marseille Bob and issues a chilling threat to East Coast businessman Marty, implying a deadly suicide bombing if his demands are not met.
Despite the outrage and fury expressed by his investors in response to his manipulative actions, Korda skillfully navigates each precarious situation, managing to extricate himself from the consequences.
Ultimately, however, the investors relent only to the extent of agreeing to cover half of the budget deficit, leaving Korda with a significant shortfall to address.
During their journey, Liesl and Korda delve into the complexities of their unconventional relationship.
After Korda heroically takes a bullet for Marseille Bob, he encounters Liesl’s mother in the afterlife, where she reveals a shocking truth: Korda is not Liesl’s biological father.
This revelation forces Korda to confront the reality that his contributions to his family have been primarily financial rather than emotional.
Furthermore, during a tense confrontation with Marty, a remorseful Korda confesses that he was aware of Liesl’s mother’s affair with his estranged half-brother, Nubar.
In a misguided attempt to retaliate against her, he fabricated a story suggesting that she was also involved with Nubar’s assistant, a lie that ultimately led to her tragic death at Nubar’s hands.
Korda further admits to maintaining business ties with Nubar, who has invested in the controversial Phoenician scheme.
Liesl, appalled by her father’s moral failings, grapples with her outrage but ultimately decides to assist him in his endeavors, motivated by a desire to see Nubar brought to justice.
In a desperate bid to evade seeking assistance from Nubar, Korda proposes marriage to his cousin Hilda, who stands to inherit a significant portion of the Korda armaments wealth. Hilda accepts his offer but firmly declines to augment her financial contribution to the venture.
During their return flight, disaster strikes as saboteurs obliterate Korda’s aircraft, leading to the discovery of incriminating evidence that implicates Bjørn as a spy for Excalibur’s consortium. However, in a surprising turn of events, Bjørn expresses his willingness to change allegiances, having developed feelings for Liesl.
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