The Phoenician Scheme (2025) – Movie Synopsis
Discover The Phoenician Scheme (2025). In 1950, wealthy industrialist Anatole “Zsa-zsa” Korda narrowly escapes an assassination attempt. Haunted by visions of a spiritual court judging his life, Korda knows his time is running out.
To secure his empire, he summons his estranged daughter, Liesl, a Catholic novice, and names her his sole heir. Liesl resists but agrees to join him on a trial basis.
Korda unveils the Phoenician Scheme, a grand plan to industrialize the Phoenician region through a complex web of business deals. But his ruthless tactics have made many enemies.
Governments and investors conspire to sabotage the project by inflating costs and blocking funds. To save the scheme, Korda, Liesl, and his assistant Bjørn embark on a globe-trotting mission to convince hostile investors to cover the shortfall.
As they navigate dangerous negotiations and assassination attempts, Liesl challenges her father’s cutthroat methods with her strong Christian morals.
Their tense relationship slowly transforms as Korda confronts painful family secrets, including the truth about Liesl’s mother and his own past betrayals.
In a dramatic climax, Korda chooses to abandon greed and completes the project by investing his fortune, ensuring fair treatment for workers. Bankrupt but redeemed, he and Liesl embrace a simpler life, united by newfound trust and forgiveness.
The Phoenician Scheme is a sharp, darkly comic thriller blending espionage, family drama, and moral redemption. It explores power, legacy, and the cost of ambition with Wes Anderson’s signature style and wit.
This film is a must-watch for fans of smart, stylish storytelling with heart.
Movie Information
- Genre: Espionage, Black Comedy, Drama
- Release Date: May 18, 2025 (Cannes Film Festival), May 29, 2025 (Germany), May 30, 2025 (USA)
- Starring: Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jeffrey Wright, Richard Ayoade, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, Bill Murray
- Producer: Wes Anderson, Jeremy Dawson, John Peet, Steven Rales
- Run Time: 101 minutes
- Country: United States, Germany
- Language: English
- Parental Guidance: PG-13 for violent content, bloody images, some sexual material, nude images, and smoking
- Gross Earnings: Not publicly disclosed as of July 2025