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Is the movie The Laundromat (2019) based on a true story?

Olivia Thompson Olivia Thompson Jun 07, 2019 · 2 mins read
Is the movie The Laundromat (2019) based on a true story?
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Yes, The Laundromat (2019) movie is based on real-life events and inspired by the Panama Papers scandal that was exposed in 2016. The Panama Papers were a massive leak of confidential documents that exposed the offshore financial activities of politicians, celebrities, and wealthy individuals around the world, highlighting the use of shell companies and tax havens to evade taxes and launder money. The movie tells the story of the people involved in the scandal and the investigation that followed.

What is the true story behind the movie The Laundromat (2019)?

The Laundromat (2019) is a movie that is fictionalized but inspired by the true events of the Panama Papers scandal in 2016. The Panama Papers were leaked documents that revealed the offshore accounts and tax evasion schemes of various wealthy individuals, politicians, and companies around the world. The documents were obtained by a German newspaper called Süddeutsche Zeitung, which shared them with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).

In the movie, Ellen Martin (played by Meryl Streep) is a widow who is seeking justice and compensation after her husband dies in a boating accident. She discovers that the insurance policy she was promised is part of a fraudulent scheme run by a law firm in Panama called Mossack Fonseca and their network of shell companies. The film follows her journey as she uncovers the corrupt and interconnected world of offshore accounts and exposes the system that allows the wealthy to avoid paying taxes.

The Laundromat is directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Scott Z. Burns. The movie uses a humorous and satirical approach to shed light on the corrupt practices of the financial industry and the legal loopholes that allow them to exist. The film also stars Gary Oldman and Antonio Banderas as the principals of Mossack Fonseca.

While the events of the movie are fictionalized and some characters are composites, it is based on the revelations of the Panama Papers and the real-world investigations that followed. The Panama Papers had a significant impact on the world with the exposure of tax evasion and money laundering practices leading to investigations and reforms in several countries.

Are there any books about the true story behind the movie The Laundromat (2019)?

Yes, there are several books about the true story behind the movie The Laundromat (2019):

  1. The Panama Papers: Breaking the Story of How the Rich and Powerful Hide Their Money by Bastian Obermayer and Frederik Obermaier

  2. Secrecy World: Inside the Panama Papers Investigation of Illicit Money Networks and the Global Elite by Jake Bernstein

  3. The Laundromat: Inside the Panama Papers Investigation of Illicit Money Networks and the Global Elite by Jake Bernstein

  4. Treasure Islands: Uncovering the Damage of Offshore Banking and Tax Havens by Nicholas Shaxson

These books explore the global tax evasion and money laundering network revealed in the Panama Papers scandal that inspired the movie.

You can try an audible free trial and search for audiobook versions of those

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Olivia Thompson
Written by Olivia Thompson
Making a difference, one step at a time.