FilmSnobReviews

Title: Triangle of Sadness
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Ruben Östlund
Starring: Charlbi Dean, Harris Dickinson, Woody Harrelson, Zlatko Buric
Runtime: 2 hr 27 mins

What It Is: Split into three sections; the first, focuses on two models, Yaya (Dean) and Carl (Dickinson) on a date at a high-end restaurant. They get into a tiff considering the bill, Yaya quietly insinuating Carl pay for dinner in spite of her promising otherwise beforehand. Following their squabble, the two join a high-end cruise for the rich. The careless and egocentric Captian (Harrelson) pushes the Captain’s dinner off until the night of a brutal storm. The violent swaying of the ship on top of bad seafood leaves a large guests of the ship explosively ill. Things go from bad to worse as the guests and laborers are reduced to the same level as things fall apart, and they are forced to rebuild a sustainable society in order to survive the trip.

What We Think: Make sure to eat before you indulge in this satirical dark comedy, it will likely make your stomach a bit sore from the hilarious extremes you’re forced to witness. By that, there’s a lot more projectile body fluids than one could have predicted from any film, which, within the context of getting off on any satisfaction due to those fluids coming from the rich and famous characters, is genuinely effective and entertaining. This film is not on the nose but rather obnoxiously throws its karma at you and its characters; likely depending on who you are is decisive on how much you can enjoy it, as it makes its stand as a comedy for the people who have experienced middle or lower class, as well as the pains of dealing with the upper class. Scenes where guests are allowed to abuse or manipulate employees, no matter how subtle or not, make it clear the film is criticizing the attitudes that culminate due to power. Even the Captain, someone who seems to be one of the few who try to separate themselves from the class also projects his own lack of relatability as he takes advantage of his position in order to drink and quote famous writers of the past with one of the other guests, disregarding the safety of those on the ship and leaving all responsibility behind. From there we also get a “Lord of the Flies” sort of installment, in which the employees and guests are all put at the same level, literally building a sort of pocket-society in order to survive. What was refreshing was also the representation of workers and people of color in the workforce, and how much they are ignored, infantilatized, and are see as less worthy or capable. You see how they’re abused, exploited, manipulated, as any of us have experienced being in the workforce. The reality of how cringeworthy yet normalized the actions of authority and this rich are, is biting. While that’s where a great deal of this film’s watchability lies, you can’t help but think about it after you see it, as it visually and conceptually permeates your brain. It cleverly structures the fragility of relationships and conversation in strange or frustrating little situations that we find ourselves in, whether it’s the objectification of an audition, supporting tacky conversations with overbearing guests / clients, or fighting over a bill while trying not to seem ungrateful or like a cheapskate–both situations manufactured by a society centered on wealth.

Playful subject matter aside, it’s a well-made film, you’d expect no less from such a renown filmmaker. It’s pretty, but steps far away enough to let the characters speak for themselves and actors to have the space for their keen performances.

 Our Grade: B, A fun, entertainingly sadistic satire, Triangle of Sadness discusses the petty cycle perpetuated by wealth and ego, the difficulty of breaking it down, and the ease in which it can be built back up again. Starring sharp performances that convey one increasingly discomforting scene after another, this stands as a bitingly humorous yet depressingly real look at our relationship with the status quo through the eyes of people existing on different placements of the social ladder. While some may just find this blatant, gross, and mildly offensive, many others will likely get quite a kick out of it.