The widely acclaimed and celebrated film director Wes Anderson released his thirteenth film The Phoenician Scheme, an extremely heartfelt and touching story, on May 30.
Like many of Anderson’s films, The Phoenician Scheme explores the subject of driven men who are distant fathers seeking to repair broken relationships. In this movie in particular, he approaches these serious subjects in a deadpan yet comedic way with his signature whimsical style of filming.
The Phoenician Scheme follows the notorious arms dealer Zsa-Zsa Korda (played by Benicio del Toro) and his estranged daughter Liesel (played by Mia Threapleton) who is a nun.
Just like his father, Korda is a ruthless businessman who lives by his father’s words, “If something gets in your way, flatten it,” and “break but don’t bend.”
He reaches out to Liesel, whom he has not seen in six years, to convince her to become the heir to his large and corrupt business empire.
Their first time meeting is cold as it is clear Korda was reaching out not to make amends, but to discuss business. Korda wants Liesel to help him complete his largest, most complex project which he calls “the Phoenician Scheme,” a vast, international infrastructure project that involves building power, water and rail systems.
Liesel is untrusting of her father considering their history.
She is eventually persuaded, hoping she can use his wealth and status to right her father’s wrongs.
As part of the Phoenician Scheme, they must travel across the world to convince wealthy business rivals and investors to pay a percentage of the project cost. The rest of the movie follows Liesel and Korda as he tries to threaten, lie and beg each investor to pay a percentage of the project.
Later into their journey, Korda starts to develop as a character through his time spent with Liesel. He begins to truly show regret for his actions and becomes more empathetic in subtle ways. This change in Korda reflects his new found honesty and sincerity in his dealings with his investors and his relationship with Liesel.
At the beginning of the movie, Korda as a character is a perfect example of a cold, emotionally distant father who is more focused on work than his kids. In the latter half of the movie, the audience can see the shift in personality when he becomes aware that he is a product of his father’s behavior that he so disliked. After he retires, Korda chooses the path of family. Through Korda’s experiences with Liesel, he grows from a ruthless businessman, like his father, into an engaged man who is trying to better himself for his family. These are characteristics we see in people in our everyday lives.
One of the main appeals of Anderson’s movies is how the characters in his movies always feel as if they are showing real emotion through their mannerisms. Through subtle conversation, dialogue and body language of the characters, the audience starts to understand what kind of character they are and what emotionally they are going through. Unlike other movies, Anderson’s writing does not overly emphasize or dramatize what his characters say. Instead, the conversation between characters flows realistically as if it were any other conversation.
Even though the circumstances are exaggerated and comical, there is an underlying truth that is revealed at the core of each character. The characters’ actions are inherently silly, but their personalities, motivations and conversations feel real, and it reflects actual people.
With Korda’s character, it is clear he is so focused on his own work and success that he has neglected his family and has no regard for his own safety.
The actors perform with a sincerity that, in spite of the silliness, grounds the characters in reality. The chemistry between del Toro and Threapleton is tender and understated, making the audience see two family members getting to know each other and building a relationship from scratch.
While one may think that Anderson’s stylized cinematography would make his movies less serious, it in fact does the opposite. His meticulously built sets and symmetrical shots capture and engage the audience. This serves to enhance the emotional depth of the dialogue and make his films feel more intimate.
Despite the movie’s positives, certain aspects of the plot felt complicated and confusing. The movie is made up of short skits that at times are hard to follow.
Anderson’s Phoenician Scheme was a funny, stylistic and entertaining movie; however, the movie’s depth and heartfelt message are the most appealing aspects about it.
