Jun 6, 2025
THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME
I recently attended a private screening of The Phoenician Scheme at a historic San Francisco theater built in 1916. The atmosphere was truly magical — classic Hollywood charm, cozy seats, soft lighting… I absolutely adore Wes Anderson’s work: every frame he shoots is a masterpiece, worthy of museums.
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The Phoenician Scheme is a new spy black comedy directed by Wes Anderson, which premiered on May 18, 2025, at the Cannes Film Festival, competing in the official selection. It had a limited U.S. release on May 30
The story centers on Anatole “Zsa-Zsa” Korda (played by Benicio del Toro), a wealthy industrialist and arms dealer who narrowly survives an assassination attempt. Shaken, he decides to pass his empire down to his estranged daughter Liesl (played by Mia Threapleton), a nun with whom he shares a strained relationship. At the same time, he hires a quirky Norwegian entomologist named Bjorn (played by Michael Cera) as his new assistant.
As Korda plans to modernize Phoenicia’s infrastructure, he discovers a conspiracy led by a business consortium called Excalibur, intent on manipulating global material prices. The film blends spy thriller elements with family drama and philosophical musings on legacy, power, and control.
I genuinely adore Wes Anderson’s work. Each of his films is a true work of art, a masterpiece of direction and stunning visual storytelling. Watching his movies on the big screen isn’t just a pleasure — it’s a privilege. I could screenshot every single second — the frames are so rich with detail, I want to turn them into paintings. His attention to the background, the tiniest props, even the buttons on costumes and the perfectly slicked-back hairstyles — it all leaves me in awe. Every character is cast with such precision that I can’t imagine anyone else in their place — each actor feels born for their role. When I first saw the poster for The Phoenician Scheme, I honestly thought it was some AI-generated concept for a fake movie — it was that flawlessly styled. It’s like the perfect dish: you savor it, and immediately want more.
• The film features a limited-edition pair of sunglasses created in collaboration with Oliver Peoples — only 10 pairs will be released worldwide, available starting June 6.
• The film’s color palette was inspired by archival magazines from the 1960s and manually adjusted on film stock to achieve a “time capsule” effect.
You can watch the trailer here, but honestly, I’d recommend skipping it altogether — go straight to the cinema and experience the magic on the big screen. Some things are meant to be felt in full.
