Tehran – Cinematheque of the Iranian Artist Forum (IAF) will be screening American filmmaker Wes Anderson’s 2025 film “The Phoenician Scheme” on Thursday.
Screening will be followed by a review session, Mehr reported.
“The Phoenician Scheme” is a black comedy film based on the story Anderson thought of as Roman Coppola. Known for his distinctive visual style and quirky storytelling, Anderson’s latest film features an ensemble cast of Benicio del Toro, Mia Srepton, Michael Cera, Liz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Brian Cranston, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Willem Dafoe and Bill Murray.
Set in 1950, the story follows Anatole “Zsa-Zsa” Korda, a ruthless weapons dealer and industrialist, to survive a small surviving attempt at assassination. During his unconscious state, he enters the afterlife. There, the Court of God decides whether he deserves entry into heaven. Faced with mortality, Korda is trying to repair a broken relationship with his only daughter, sister Riesle, a Catholic novice. He urges her to leave her religious life and take over his business empire. Their relationship is tense. He denied that Korda sent Riesul to the monastery at the age of five and was rumored to have murdered his mother. During this spiritual journey, Riesl also meets Bjorn, a Norwegian entomologist and Korda’s assistant.
Meanwhile, Korda’s unethical plan has attracted the attention of global authorities. He aims to overhaul Phoenician infrastructure using slave labor, a scheme opposed by governments around the world. Secret agent, Excalibur, is conspiring to manipulate the market by inflated the costs of construction materials and threatening Korda’s ambitions. Along with Liesl and Bjørn, Korda tries to secure an investment, but his manipulation leads to confusion. Despite his efforts, only half of the funds have been raised, putting his project at risk.
Throughout, Korda’s past was revealed. He fakes a story about his wife’s affair. Korda is acknowledging its ongoing transactions with investor Nubar. Appealing to his father’s morality, Riesle vows to help him, but also seeks justice for his mother’s murder.
In a final attempt to secure funds, Korda proposes to marry his cousin, Hilda. She accepts but refuses to increase her investment. Upon returning home, the sabotage destroys Korda’s plane and reveals Bjorn as a spy working at Excalibur. However, Bjørn’s love for Liesl encourages him to switch sides. The story ends with the transformation of Korda. He converts to Catholicism, pays workers, completes the Phoenician project and invests everything in search of redemption. Although he goes bankrupt, Korda wins Reesle’s forgiveness and settles in a simple life running through a small bistro. Hilda’s marriage is annulled and she gives Bjorn her ring, suggesting Riel.
sab/