Panama Papers|Sep. 27, 2019|United States|96 Min.|R
Genre: Comedy;Crime;Drama
Description: The Laundromat (2019) is a film that explores the intricate and shady world of money laundering. It begins with Jürgen Mossack and Ramón Fonseca introducing themselves and explaining the concept of money laundering. They serve as narrators throughout the film, guiding the audience through three interconnected stories of individuals negatively impacted by the operations of their company, Mossack Fonseca. While the narrative is fictionalized, the real-life law firm and its founders are central to the story, drawing parallels to the infamous Panama Papers scandal.
One of the main characters, Ellen Martin, and her husband, Joe, are on a pleasure boat that capsizes, resulting in Joe’s death. Ellen tries to claim compensation from the boat company but faces obstacles because the reinsurance policy was sold to a company based in Nevis, which is actually a shell corporation linked to Mossack’s operations. Ellen’s efforts to contact the Nevis-based company fail, leading her to travel there to confront Malchus Boncamper, the manager of the trust. Unaware of his identity, she questions him about his firm, but he deceives her and leaves. Later, Malchus is arrested by IRS agents in Miami.
The second story follows Simone, the daughter of an African billionaire named Charles. Simone discovers her best friend’s affair with her father, and Charles offers her shares in one of his investment companies, supposedly worth $20 million, to buy her silence. However, when Simone visits Mossack’s offices in Panama City to claim the shares, she learns they are worthless, as they belong to a shell company that exists only on paper.
Cast director: Steven Soderbergh
Cast actor: Meryl Streep, Gary Oldman, Antonio Banderas, Jeffrey Wright, Melissa Rauch, Jeff Michalski, Jane Morris, Robert Patrick, David Schwimmer, Cristela Alonzo
Original name: The Laundromat