The Phoenician Scheme: Who really is Bjørn Lund in the Wes Anderson movie? Character explained

In the recently released Wes Anderson film, The Phoenician Scheme, we explore a greater range in the performance of actor Michael Cera in his portrayal of Bjørn Lund.

The film follows the plot of how an unethical industrialist named Anatole "Zsa-Zsa" Korda (played by Benicio del Toro), after being baited by other business people and gangsters, finally abandons his shady life and repairs his relationship with his daughter, Sister Liesl, who is the member of the Catholic Church (played by Mia Threapleton).

In the film, Michael Cera essays the role of Bjørn Lund, an odd and timid Norwegian entomologist who takes care of Korda's administrative work. Initially, he worked as a teacher to Korda's children, and then escalated to become his administrative assistant.

But there is far more to the seemingly harmless Bjørn. Let us find out more about Michael Cera's character in The Phoenician Scheme.

Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers for the film as well as the author's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.

Michael Cera's character, Bjørn Lund, in The Phoenician Scheme explored

In The Phoenician Scheme, actor Michael Cera plays the role of Bjørn Lund. He is a meek man who also shows interest in Korda's daughter, Liesl. In the initial part of the movie, the character of Bjørn is established to be a Norwegian man who has an entomology background. That explains his fascination with bugs in the movie!

Korda, in the film, sees afterlife visions in the film after surviving a plane crash. So, on a similar note, when Cera was speaking to Slant Magazine, he was asked about Bjørn's hallucinations. To which, he says after bursting out a laugh:

"It would be in color! And bugs, a lot of bugs."

But the character of Bjørn is split into two completely different personalities, as he is not what he has pretended to be. In the film, it is revealed that he is a spy for the US government. However, he chooses to side with Korda for the rest of the film. Michael Cera, in his performance, makes an easy and effortless transition from the identity he was pretending to be to the identity he truly has.

The comic timings of Cera work quite well in the characterization of Bjørn in The Phoenician Scheme. But he is not here for only the laughs; neither is he the quintessential villain. He is also a man who feels remorse and is in love. Towards the end of the film, he asks Liesl to marry him, and she agrees too. In that way, we witness an unconventional portrayal of a grey-shaded character who is funny as well as ambidextrous. But also, he redeems himself, and we get to see his romantic side as well.

Michael Cera is incredible at showcasing characters who are unconventional, awkward, and funny, but also with a sense of vulnerability in his eyes. For example, in Greta Gerwig's Barbie (2023), Cera successfully brought the nuance and sensitivity that made us root for the exceptional personality named Allan, who is way beyond the traditional binaries.

Similarly, his sincere portrayal of Bjørn in The Phoenician Scheme just expands our understanding of the potential of the actor. In fact, one of his co-actors in the film, the Doctor Strange star Benedict Cumberbatch, talked about the first ever collaboration of Wes Anderson and Michael Cera in The Phoenician Scheme.

While in a conversation with Variety, this is what Cumberbatch stated:

“Watching him discover Michael is like God discovering water. It seems like a really natural, obvious element to have in his arsenal as a filmmaker. It was really a perfect partnership.”

Cumberbatch essayed the role of Nubar, the half-brother of Korda who was attempting to murder him all along.

It will be compelling to witness Michael Cera in diverse characters that showcase the actor's full potential. It will be a delight to watch him in the Wes Anderson world in the future, too. Apart from his role in this film, Cera is well known for his work in Superbad (2007), Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), This Is the End (2013), Youth in Revolt (2019), Dream Scenario (2023), and many more.