The Laundromat is a biographical comedy-drama film that takes inspiration from the infamous Panama Papers scandal. Directed by Steven Soderbergh and released in 2019, the film tells the interwoven stories of three fictional characters who are affected by the money laundering schemes of the law firm Mossack Fonseca.
The film opens with Jürgen Mossack (Gary Oldman) and Ramón Fonseca (Antonio Banderas) introducing the concepts of money, credit, and money laundering. The two lawyers also introduce us to the three characters who will experience the consequences of the shady practices of their law firm. One of them is Ellen Martin (Meryl Streep), who is on vacation with her husband Joe Martin (James Cromwell) when their cruise ship sinks, resulting in her husband’s death. But when Ellen tries to claim compensation for her loss, she discovers that the insurance company that should have covered her husband’s accident is just a shell company owned by Mossack Fonseca. As Ellen tries to get justice for her husband, she uncovers the extent of the firm’s fraudulent activities.
In the second story, we meet Simone, the daughter of an African billionaire named Charles. Simone catches her father cheating on her mother with her best friend and tries to expose him. In response, Charles tries to bribe her with $20 million worth of shares in one of his companies. However, when Simone tries to claim those shares at the Mossack Fonseca office in Panama, she discovers that they are worthless. The company is just a shell company under Mossack Fonseca, and the shares only exist on paper.
The third story is a dramatization of the 2012 incident involving Wang Lijun, a Chinese politician. It starts with Maywood (Matthias Schoenaerts), a money launderer who brokers the transfer of wealthy Chinese people’s money overseas, meeting with Gu Kailai (Rosalind Chao). Gu Kailai is one of the people who uses the service to avoid taxes. Maywood pressures Gu Kailai to set a higher price for their services, but Gu Kailai refuses and poisons Maywood instead. She then turns to Wang Lijun for protection but is arrested by the Chinese police for corruption and the murder of Maywood.
Throughout the film, we see the complex issue of the Panama Papers scandal being presented in a simple and entertaining way. Soderbergh manages to explain the intricate process of money laundering with the help of Oldman and Banderas’s comical acting. The Laundromat gives us a good understanding of the complicated concept of money laundering in an entertaining manner.
However, one of the criticisms of the film is that the three main characters are not dominant enough. This makes it difficult for the audience to have a clear character to root for or get invested in. Nonetheless, Soderbergh’s unique storytelling technique, the witty dialogue, and the humor make The Laundromat an informative and enjoyable watch.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Laundromat is an entertaining comedy-drama film that explains the deeply complex concept of money laundering with humor and simplicity. Directed by one of the best filmmakers of our time, Steven Soderbergh, the film approaches an intricate and complicated issue with a fresh perspective, offering viewers a better understanding of the Panama Papers scandal. Despite the lack of a defined main character, The Laundromat is a must-watch movie for both those familiar with the topic and those who are just learning about it, and is sure to become a classic in the genre.
