The Laundromat
classified 15Please note: This was screened in Oct 2019
Steven Soderbergh sets his sights on the shady elite with this account of the Panama Papers scandal, starring Meryl Streep as a widow investigating insurance fraud who uncovers two lawyers (Gary Oldman and Antonio Banderas) in Panama exploiting the world’s financial system. Based on the book by Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Jake Bernstein, it’s an entertaining ride that takes the pulse of capitalism.
When her idyllic vacation takes an unthinkable turn, Ellen Martin (Meryl Streep) begins investigating a fake insurance policy, only to find herself down a rabbit hole of questionable dealings that can be linked to a Panama City law firm and its vested interest in helping the world’s wealthiest citizens amass even larger fortunes.
The charming - and very well-dressed - founding partners Jürgen Mossack and Ramón Fonseca are experts in the seductive ways shell companies and offshore accounts help the rich and powerful prosper. They are about to show us that Ellen’s predicament only hints at the tax evasion, bribery and other illicit absurdities that the super wealthy indulge in to support the world’s corrupt financial system.