Shabnam Kohestani

The Phoenician Scheme (2025) drops you right into a tangled web of secrets, betrayal, and that irresistible pull of ancient mysteries. Shabnam Kohestani takes a front seat in this rollercoaster, playing a character who’s honestly too clever for her own good. The story kicks off in modern-day Beirut, where echoes of the Phoenician past linger in the air, and folks are still digging up more than just pottery shards. Kohestani’s character, a scrappy archaeologist with a chip on her shoulder, stumbles onto a relic that’s not just old—it’s, like, world-shattering if it falls into the wrong hands. You can almost smell the dust and danger. Things get real messy, real fast. There’s a shadowy billionaire, some dubious government types, and a bunch of double-crossing treasure hunters who’d sell out their own grandmother for a shot at glory. And of course, there’s ancient codes to crack, narrow escapes through neon-lit alleys, and more than one scene where you’ll wonder if anyone’s making it out alive. But it’s not just a race for gold or glory. The movie digs into big questions—like, who gets to own history? Who decides what stories survive, and which ones get buried for good? Kohestani’s performance is sharp, layered, and honestly, she steals the show. If you’re into movies where the past collides with the present and nothing is as simple as it seems, The Phoenician Scheme is definitely one for the watchlist.