The emotional high point came as rising star Mia Threapleton—daughter of Kate Winslet and the film’s leading lady—was brought to tears by the applause. Standing beside co-stars Michael Cera and Benicio del Toro, she smiled through her emotions as the Cannes audience celebrated her performance.
Anderson kept his post-screening remarks characteristically concise: “I can think of about 12 words to say that stand for everything in this movie: Richard Ayoade, Riz, Alexandre, Michael, Mia, Jeffrey, Rupert, Benedict, God and Benicio del Toro.” (The “God” reference playfully alluded to Bill Murray, who has a brief cameo in the film.)
About the Film
The Phoenician Scheme stars Benicio del Toro as eccentric European billionaire Zsa-zsa Korda. Mia Threapleton portrays his daughter, Sister Liesel, a young nun, while Michael Cera plays her tutor, Bjorn Lund, in his first appearance in an Anderson film.
The ensemble cast features Anderson regulars and new collaborators, including Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Jeffrey Wright, Riz Ahmed, Scarlett Johansson, Richard Ayoade, Mathieu Amalric, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, and Benedict Cumberbatch.
While Johansson missed the premiere due to her hosting duties on SNL, she is expected at Cannes on Tuesday to present her directorial debut, Eleanor the Great.
A Cannes Tradition
Anderson, who resides in Paris, has long been a Cannes favorite. For this year’s festival, he once again curated a tightly organized experience for his cast, who stayed together outside of Cannes in the scenic town of Èze.
“Wes loves to curate the experience,” Johansson told Variety in a previous interview. “Now, I’m so spoiled and don’t ever want to stay anywhere in the city limits.”
In a break from tradition, the cast arrived at the Palais in a chartered bus rather than in separate black sedans. Bill Murray led the group off the bus, followed closely by Threapleton, who gathered up her emerald gown before walking the red carpet.
Anderson’s Cannes Legacy
The Phoenician Scheme is Anderson’s fourth competition entry at Cannes. Past festival premieres include Asteroid City (2023), Moonrise Kingdom (2012), and The French Dispatch (2021). He also opened the Berlin Film Festival with The Grand Budapest Hotel and premiered The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar in Venice, which later won him an Oscar for best live action short film.
The film was produced by Anderson’s American Empirical Pictures, alongside Jeremy Dawson, John Peet, and Steven Rales of Indian Paintbrush. Focus Features will release the film in theaters with a limited rollout beginning May 30, followed by a wider release on June 6.
Related topics:
