Triangle of Sadness: Ruben Östlund’s Divisive Palme d’Or Winner A Note-Perfect Satire
By Karen Gordon
Rating: A
Back in the days before streaming, when “I’ll wait for it to come to television” meant years and not days, going to the movies was an event frequently followed by post-film coffee and robust discussion.
If ever there was a movie that warranted that old school tradition, it is Ruben Östlund’s darkly comic, Palme d’Or–winning social satire, Triangle of Sadness. The film was a surprise winner at Cannes, where it was met with a mixed reaction from critics.
It seemed that its structure and lengthy running time (two-and-a-half hours) combined with Östlund’s habit of letting scenes run long made some critics feel it overstayed its welcome even as they admired its comic braininess. Still others — me among them — admired its audaciousness.
Triangle is set up in three acts and focused on a couple, both models and romantically involved. There’s Carl (Harris Dickinson) and his more successful girlfriend Yaya (the late Charlbi Dean) who is also aiming to be an influencer.
In the first act, the couple, who are at fashion week, end up having a long argument about their relationship, specifically the power dynamics of their relationship, triggered by a discussion over who picks up the cheques at dinner.
The second act follows Yaya and Carl to a luxury cruise where the staff — led by the super-efficient, tireless head purser Paula (Vicky Berlin) and her staff —tend to every whim of their ultra-rich international clientele.
Below deck, the mostly Filipino crew does the maintenance. The ship’s captain Thomas (Woody Harrelson) hides in his stateroom, refusing to open the door (although the clanking of bottles gives us an idea of what he’s up to) until he’s dragged out to greet his guests for the captain’s dinner. A massive storm descends during the multi-course dinner, causing extreme sea sickness in many of the passengers and wreaking havoc on the ship’s plumbing.
In the meantime, Thomas engages in a long, drunken conversation with Dimitry (Zlatko Buric), a colourful Russian fertilizer oligarch. The pair debate capitalism and various versions of communism, sometimes over the ship’s loudspeakers, until the ship is attacked by pirates.
The final act sees Carl, Yaya, Paula, Dimitry and a handful of guests stranded on the shores of an island, trying to survive. As they’re getting their bearings, one of the lifeboats lands on shore with a few supplies… and with head cleaning lady Abigail (Dolly de Leon). As it turns out, Abigail is the only person with basic survival skills, notably how to fish and make a fire. She quickly becomes the leader of this ragtag colony of survivors.
Triangle of Sadness marks the second time Östlund has scored the Palme d’Or in recent years, having won for 2017’s The Square, which took a swing at the world of high art as well as masculinity in the contemporary world. It’s a pervasive theme for the director.
Few writer-directors do social satire as well as Östlund. He writes sharp dialogue that sounds natural and nails contemporary mores. He’s a master of scenes that deliberately go on too long to the point of making us uncomfortable, and scenarios that make us laugh at things we might not otherwise. Even his sound design adds comic touches, with things like squeaky windshield wipers adding wry comedy in a scene meant to be tense.
A film like this needs a note-perfect cast, and it’s got it. At its core are the excellent Dickinson and Dean as Carl and Yaya. Sadly, Dean died suddenly at the end of August, just before the film arrived at the Toronto International Film Festival. Her performance was good enough to have made her a serious awards contender.
Triangle of Sadness has been described as a film that skewers the wealthy. But it’s a broader look at human behaviour, human nature, and power dynamics, through all those various modes. Does it overstay its welcome or hammer at its themes too much? Perhaps.
Having seen it twice now, I can say that it felt better the second time I watched it. It’s a fantastic mix of the funny, the astute, the disturbing and the brainy in the very specific style of Östlund. It’s a pleasure to watch it play out.
Triangle of Sadness. Written and directed by Ruben Östlund. Starring Harris Dickinson, Charbli Dean, Woody Harrelson, Dolly De Leon, and Vicki Berlin. In theatres October 7.