Four years before the premiere of Wes Anderson, “The Phoenic Scheme”, the first in Cannes on May 18, the idea of the film was born at the festival while the visionary director presented “The French Dispatch”. Benicio Del Toro played a small but memorable role in the film as an imprisoned artist, but Anderson wanted more for the Oscar -winning actor.
“I had a kind of image in my mind of Benicio playing a business magnate in euros,” said Anderson Variety By e-mail. “As if he had released an Antonioni film with his sunglasses.”
At first, Del Toro thought that his share would be a size similar to “The French Dispatch” and did not get his hopes. But then he read the script. “”[Anderson] sent me the next 20 pages and I’m still in it and then the next 20 pages and I’m still in it, “said Del Toro in an interview with Variety in Cannes. “And then I started to have fear: Oh my God, it’s huge!”
Del Toro embodies ZSA-Zsa Korda, a rich businessman who continues to avoid assassination and must make amends with his distant daughter, a nun named Liesl (Mia Threrapleton), in order to save his empire. The inspiration for the character included the Armenian millionaire Calouste Gulbenkian, Aristotle Onassis, William Hearst and even the construction engineer Fouad Malouf, the father of Anderson’s partner, Juman Malouf.
As Anderson describes, Zsa-Zsa is “a man who can always rotate and has no obligation towards the truth. A man who feels empowered – and even forced – to make decisions that redirect the lives of populations. Someone whose ambition is like a storm system. ” The filmmaker wrote the role with Del Toro in mind – and not only is he the main character, but he is in each plan of the film.
“He was the only one I never considered,” said Anderson about Del Toro. “Perhaps if Anthony Quinn had been available, I might have considered it a rescue plan. Orson Welles could play this role. Toshiro Mifune, but he did not speak English, as far as I know.” (All these actors died.)
Benicio Del Toro, Mia Threrapleton and Michael Cera in “The Phoenic Scheme”.
© Focus Functions / Courtesy Everett Collection
With a short time of rehearsal before shooting “the Phoenician regime” over eight weeks in Germany, Del Toro said that the task was intimidating: “But in the end, you just have confidence [Anderson]. You just go and you are in good hands.
Despite the status of ZSA-Zsa magnate, Del Toro noted that “the human arch of the character is really the heart of the play”, which is where the character of Threrapleton enters. Del Toro accompanied Anderson in London for hearing, and both knew immediately.
“There was this moment when we locked our eyes and I said to myself, I think she could tell Zsa Zsa what’s going on,” said Del Toro. “And it is the angel who saves ZSA ZSA. Without her, I think that ZSA ZSA is a really sad human being. It is she who really ignites his conscience.”
While ZSA-Zsa and Liesl embark on a global adventure, they are accompanied by the timid tutor obsessed with Bjorn insects, played by Michael Cera, which offers a large part of the comic relief of the film. “He has this Buster Keaton thing,” said Del Toro. “He is stoic, but there is something else, like a I don’t know what. I think he is also great in the film and he’s a little, but it’s just a large part that will give him sailing.”
“The Phoenician regime” will also give Del Toro a momentum. “I do not take it for granted. I know that the game was a gift,” he said. “The actors dream of moments like that, where a great director says:” I have this part for you. I’m going to rely on your shoulders for that. It was therefore a call to arms and I was honored. »»
Friday, “The Phoenic Scheme” publishes in theaters via development features.
