This masterclass in filmmaking is from the director of the Square, Swedish filmmaker Ruben Ostlund. I didn’t quite know what I was getting into when I stumbled across this 2022 black comedy a Triangle of Sadness that New Yorker columnist Naomi Fry said
“In “Triangle of Sadness,” the Crudity Is the Point
Ruben Östlund’s latest film isn’t just about puke—it’s also about shit.”
And it is about shit, how money and power creates it not just for others but for individuals themselves.
It also reminded me of a Machiavelli quote “Power does not belong to the strongest, but the one who understands fear, desire and timing”
And I cannot think of another film I have ever seen that depicts the validity of this statement throughout.
When you read the reviews, don’t let the synopsis put you off. It sounds like a weird film. It’s not. Don’t let the fact it’s Swedish with lesser known actors, (apart from Woody Harrelson) put you off either. The ensemble cast is absolutely stupendous too and will have you surprisingly in before you even realise what you are watching. It starts in a very glamorous world of fashion, parties, opulence that sets the story up immaculately. And the director writer, steers the ship masterfully. You have no idea where it’s going and yet you are in, hooked.
In the beginning you don’t quite know what you are watching, set on a luxury cruise liner with a drunken sailor Woody Harrelson who doesn’t like haute cuisine, served a burger and chips at the captain’s table whilst his guests devour oysters, caviar and unlimited quantities of champagne the stark contrasts, light and shade are apparent throughout. Some passengers have gained their fortunes through tech or peddling arms, others find them enjoying the luxury for free as influencers pushing good looks and marketing potential. The question of morality and selling sex and sex appeal comes up in various forms throughout the film as does the subject of societal statistics, trading currencies, status, hierarchy and ultimate power. On the cruise liner many of these markers are highlighted in the story, where people come from, what they do, how easy for some it might be to purchase a Rolex watch for a stranger or offer wealth and status as a substitute to their character and integrity.
The film not surprisingly was nominated for and won a lot of international awards most notably the Palme D’Or at Cannes (2022). At the European Film Awards it had 4 wins Best Film, Best Director (Ruben Östlund), Best Screenplay (Ruben Östlund), Best Actor (Zlatko Burić) and at Swedens top film awards the Guldbagge Awards it won for Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Costume, and Best Make-up.
The film's critical success translated into major international award nominations: at Academy Awards there were 3 nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay. At the BAFTA UK Awards also 3 nominations Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress (Dolly de Leon), Best Casting And the Golden Globes in the US 2 nominations Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) and again Best Supporting Actress (Dolly de Leon).
I am not surprised Dolly De Leon, a Filipino actress I had never seen or heard of before was recognised and praised so highly for her role in this film as Abigail the “toilet manager” a cleaning lady on the luxury cruise liner.
Her role is pivotal and creates an amazing dynamic shift in the story after the boat sinks and a handful of the characters survive ending up, stranded, on a deserted island. It is here Abigail uses her real-world survival skills to take charge, completely flipping the power dynamic and social hierarchy.
It’s an amazing educational film with political ideology woven through the script where discussion around capitalism, communism and socialism forms the back drop for human behaviour, looking deeply at the drivers of power, wealth acquisition, status, ambition and aspiration.
It’s mad, crazy, extreme but so well done it will keep you thinking about why we all do the things we do and open up a whole new debate around wealth, wealth creation and what is really important when it comes to being happy, for it is the roots of sadness and misery that this film tackles through humour, dark comedy and basically a whole lot of cringe worthy scenarios.
How much you will enjoy it, I guess depends on how far you have evolved from the characters depicted, the less you see yourself the easier it is to endure and enjoy.
For me it was an absolutely fabulous watch. Had I watched it 10 years ago, let’s say I could certainly see a former self and it might not have been so enlightening. If you like luxury cruising, which is not for me, you may never book another cruise again.