It’s no accident that Wes Anderson has once again enchanted audiences with his recent film, The Phoenician Scheme. The action of the film takes place in a Middle Eastern desert. It traces the rise and fall of Zsa-zsa Korda, played by Benicio Del Toro, an unscrupulous arms dealer who has made his multibillion-dollar empire on the backs of human suffering. True to Anderson’s distinctive style, this new project takes us inside that world. It makes brilliant use of symmetrical shots, dynamic costume design, and a deliciously addictive story rich in conspiracy and familial rivalry.
The story follows Zsa-zsa Korda, the coldest heart in the West. He’s trying to protect his ill-gotten gains for his daughter Liesl (Mia Threapleton). Liesl is not your average heiress. As a novitiate nun, she must grapple with her father’s sinister legacy and the ethical questions of inheriting such a huge fortune. Liesl dives into a suspenseful adventure to dispel creepy rumors surrounding her mother’s suspicious death. She fears that Zsa-zsa might have been a contributing factor in this terrible death.
The film’s scope expands significantly with the introduction of a massive infrastructure project involving a railway and a dam, pivotal to Zsa-zsa’s ambitions in the region. This scheme does not go unchallenged. Early in the film, Zsa-Zsa survives an assassination attempt. This climactic revelation serves as a breathtaking catalyst that spurs a series of twists and turns revealing more devious schemes afoot. Opposing her is a suave international spy, played by Rupert Friend, whose role as primary antagonist is to thwart Zsa-zsa’s fabulous schemes.
Del Toro and Threapleton are joined by an all-star cast in The Phoenician Scheme. Joining them are legendary actors Bill Murray, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, and Riz Ahmed. Each actor brings depth to their roles, with Hanks and Cranston playing rival railway tycoons vying for control over the lucrative infrastructure deal. At the same time, Ahmed portrays a prince caught up in Zsa-zsa’s complicated schemes.
It’s hard to overstate the degree to which Anderson’s creative vision soars through The Phoenician Scheme. The movie is 1 hour and 41 minutes long. It’s filled with his trademark aesthetic, rainbow bright color palette and perfectly constructed tableaux, all of which is designed to engage, distract, and disarm. Audiences will love Anderson’s distinct style present in each gorgeous frame. His distinctive style contributes greatly to the film’s fantastical, yet dreamily sad atmosphere.
Zsa-zsa’s relationship with Liesl is central to the film’s emotional core. He has nine sons, but for reasons of his own, he has selected Liesl to be his sole heir. This puzzling decision raises questions about his motivations and the tension at play in his own family. Their meetings at his opulent villa reveal the somewhat twisted layers of their connection. As Liesl struggles against her father’s oppressive expectations, she seeks the truth about her mother’s former life.
As Liesl gets further into her own examination, the stakes grow higher and the tension intensifies. The film deftly balances moments of humor with gripping drama, showcasing Anderson’s ability to intertwine disparate elements into a cohesive narrative. An Over-tethered Heart, The Phoenician Scheme explores greed, moral depravity, and how bald ambition can poison a soul. Alongside, it highlights the gritty fight for identity and salvation between a challenging web of familial loyalties.
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