Swedish auteur Ruben Östlund skewers the rich, wealth disparity, and gender dynamics in a wickedly funny black comedy. Triangle of Sadness, Östlund’s second Palme d’Or winner at the Cannes Film Festival, had me laughing hysterically for the entire two-hour and twenty minutes runtime. Greedy and narcissistic one-percenters get a drastic comeuppance when the tables are turned. A sledgehammer satirical approach revels in portraying despicable behavior to its ugliest extent. Social media influencers also get clobbered in the melee. Their world of vapid self-promotion disintegrates with a harsh reality check.
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A group of razor-thin male models stand shirtless before an eccentric interviewer. He tests their ability to emote different brands at a whim. Carl (Harris Dickinson) doesn’t do well during his catwalk test. Later at dinner, he’s upset when Yaya (Charlbi Dean), his famous model girlfriend and noted influencer, feigns picking up the expensive tab. She makes a lot more money than him. Why is a man always expected to pay?
The film’s second part takes place weeks later on a spectacular superyacht. Russian oligarchs, arms dealers, and business leaders vacation in luxurious splendor. Yaya and Carl got the trip for free because of her influencer status. Paula (Vicki Berlin), the ship’s concierge, can’t get Captain Thomas Smith (Woody Harrelson) out of his state room. Meanwhile, the guests have every fickle whim serviced by crew. Dimitry (Zlatko Burić) prides himself on making his fortune selling fertilizer. He extols the values of capitalism while getting drunk with a Marx-quoting Smith at a calamitous dinner.
The third act changes tone dramatically. The ship’s survivors wash up on a deserted island. They huddle together while trying to gather supplies. Abigail (Dolly de Leon), a Filipina toilet cleaner, managed to escape on a stocked lifeboat. She’s the only person who can fish or start a fire. Abigail doesn’t take orders from Paula anymore. She lustily eyes the handsome Carl; which doesn’t sit well with a sunburned and starving Yaya.
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Triangle of Sadness and the True Meaning of Power
Triangle of Sadness shows the true meaning of power. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs state that water, food, and shelter are the basic tenets of survival. Carl, Yaya, and the other privileged guests had four-star meals appear on their plates. Their grand rooms, designer wardrobes, and safety were handled by the ignorable underclass. Money dictated their status atop the societal pyramid. Unfortunately for them, money’s only useful for kindling on a remote island.
Abigail, played superbly by de Leon in an awards-worthy performance, meant nothing on the ship. She was a plebeian maid. Abigail understands that she’s the most important person on the island. Why should she share fish or the lifeboat’s supplies? Abigail can’t be bought or swayed with promises upon rescue. Her word is the new law. As Barkhad Abdi famously said in Captain Phillips, “I’m the captain now.”
Östlund gets top marks for shattering entitlement and egos. The scenes on the ship are comically revolting. Disgust transforms to schadenfreude as icky passengers face a scatological dilemma. It’s an extreme but deserving outcome. Carl is a hapless pawn from the start. His masculinity evaporates as he submits from one demanding woman to another. Carl’s duty placating Yaya seamlessly transfers to Abigail. Who does he enjoy servicing more?
Triangle of Sadness paints obscene wealth and classism with a dirty brush. Many will find the film’s message grossly offensive. The drunken argument between Dimitry and Smith represents a philosophical chasm. Should a select few enjoy unbridled riches while the vast majority suffer? You may not agree with Östlund’s opinions but will certainly be giggling and gasping throughout.
Triangle of Sadness is a production of Imperative Entertainment, Film i Väst, BBC Film, and 30WEST. It will have a theatrical release in the US on October 7th from NEON.
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