After making films for 30 years, Wes Anderson has crafted a visual style that is uniquely his own. And he repeats this style — or most of its elements — in every. single. film, no matter the content. The perfectly symmetrical compositions, the finely-detailed sets that look like dioramas, quirky whip pans, pastel colors — all of this can be endlessly charming or tiresome the more Wes Anderson movies you see. The Phoenician Scheme is no exception, enveloping his typical visual quirkiness in an even odder plot.
Bencio del Toro is perfectly debonair as the scheming Zsa-zsa Korda, who keeps surviving hilarious assassination attempts. He wants to protect his empire by naming an heir, but none of his nine sons will do. He tries to get in the good graces of his only daughter, a nun named Liesl, played by a delightfully deadpan Mia Threapleton, Kate Winslet’s daughter. Together, they go on a globetrotting adventure to secure funding for his next project that he promises will not use slave labor. The nature of his business is kind of confusing, but you just roll with it because everything looks pretty.
As with any Wes Anderson film, he assembles a high-profile ensemble that includes Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Mathieu Amalric, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Ayoade, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, Willem Dafoe, and Bill Murray. Their charisma and star power never makes for a dull moment even if the details of the story are quite threadbare. It’s Michael Cera who emerges as the film’s true star as a fumbling tutor with a secret. Cera’s inherent awkwardness in his staccato, hesitant speech and gangly physicality perfectly fits into Anderson’s idiosyncratic world. The Phoenician Scheme boasts a satirical take on Korda’s Biblical fate and a heartwarming perspective on life’s true meaning, exploring something new for Anderson’s canon. It is by no means Wes Anderson’s finest work, but if you’re a fan or a completionist, it’s endearing enough. Recommended.
How does The Phoenician Scheme fit into a Wes Anderson retrospective or auteur series?
The Phoenician Scheme is a natural inclusion in any Wes Anderson retrospective or discussion of auteur theory. It embodies Anderson’s signature techniques—symmetry, pastels, deadpan humor, and ensemble casts—while pushing into even more surreal and satirical territory. The film provides a useful case study in how a director's style can both evolve and remain consistent, and offers a springboard for conversations around recurring themes in Anderson’s work such as dysfunctional families, lost innocence, and stylized nostalgia. It also invites comparison to earlier films like The Grand Budapest Hotel or The Royal Tenenbaums for patrons exploring how visual storytelling can define an auteur's voice.
Should public libraries add The Phoenician Scheme to their film collections?
The Phoenician Scheme will appeal most to fans of Wes Anderson and patrons who appreciate stylized, offbeat comedy. Its ensemble cast and witty, unconventional narrative make it an entertaining and conversation-worthy addition to public library film collections, especially those that emphasize independent cinema or well-known directors. However, for general audiences unfamiliar with Anderson’s work, the film’s quirks and abstract storytelling might not land. Libraries with active film clubs or patrons who engage with film as art will find this a worthwhile title to include.
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