“Triangle of Sadness” in the cinema
Bitter satire with a disgusting factor
By Nicole Ankelman
10/13/2022 2:56 p.m
Ruben Östlund wins a Palme d’Or in Cannes for “Triangle of Sadness”. The satire is a hard-hitting and sometimes disgusting critique of capitalism and the class system. This works well at times, but is not entirely convincing.
Director Ruben Östlund is known for films in which he addresses socio-political grievances. While it was the patriarchy and the associated toxic masculinity in “Force Majeure” and “The Square”, both also play a role in the conclusion of the trilogy. The focus, however, is on the criticism of capitalism and the social injustice that goes with it. Once again, the Swede manages to win the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
“Triangle of Sadness” consists of three chapters. The film starts in the fashion business with “Carl & Yaya”, then leads to “The Jacht”, which finally suffers shipwreck. And so we continue on “The Island”, on which the balance of power suddenly reverses.
In the beauty industry, the “triangle of sadness” is the area between the eyebrows where the so-called frown line forms. The only 25-year-old model Carl (Harris Dickinson) is advised at a casting to have Botox injected there, which describes part of the topic: the human being as a commodity. Carl and his girlfriend Yaya (Charlbi Dean Kriek) are not only a handsome young couple, they both work as models and influencers. However, Yaya is significantly more successful than her boyfriend, because women are better off than men, at least in this industry. That’s why there are always arguments between the lovers. When Yaya receives an invitation to a luxury cruise, Carl still wants to accompany his girlfriend.
Oversubscribed super-rich find it sucks
Yaya and Carl are hoping for a good time.
(Photo: Film i Väst)
On the $250 million ship are some extremely oversubscribed super-rich, including the Russian capitalist Dimitry (Zlatko Buric), the arms manufacturers Winston (Oliver Ford Davies) and Clementine (Amanda Walker) and other wealthy white people of old age. Among them Therese (Iris Berben), who after a stroke only has a small vocabulary but a sharp mind. When Captain Smith (Woody Harrelson), himself an advocate of communism and socialism, suffers a nervous breakdown, the ambitious chief stewardess Paula (Vicki Berlin) has to deal with the spoiled guests and their absurd wishes for the time being on her own.
A strong storm brings the captain, who turned to alcohol, back on deck. Despite the rough seas to be expected, he insists on a sumptuous meal with his passengers. It happens as it has to happen: soon everyone is spitting out their once noble stomach contents in all directions. When a group of Somali pirates tried to hijack the yacht the next morning and some shipwrecked people were stranded on a deserted island, the social conditions that had prevailed until then no longer played a role. Suddenly, slick Filipino toilet attendant Abigail (Dolly De Leon) finds herself at the top of the pecking order because she’s the only one who can make fire and catch fish. A circumstance that she is only too happy to exploit and thanks to which she can take what she wants.
Much effect, less depth
Director Ruben Ostlund, winner of the Palme d’Or for ‘Triangle of Sadness’, after the award ceremony.
(Photo: Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP/dpa)
The satire, which denounces the inhumanity and superficiality of the capitalist system, thrives on wordplay and original ideas. And she causes a stir, especially with the escalating puke orgy. Scenes relevant to emetophobia sufferers (People with fear of throwing up – Note d. editor) are not recommended by the way. But Östlund also understands this as criticism, as the rich throw up their disgusting life and activities practically in a high arc from the body. However, the chapter “The Jacht” seems to be limited to that, while the other two parts of the film address problems more clearly and become more personal in the process.
Otherwise, Östlund – unlike his predecessor films – relies a lot on effects, which is reflected in the special sound design, among other things. However, a lot of depth is lost in the process, which would certainly have been possible given the topic. And so “Triangle of Sadness” not exactly subtly denounces the absurdity of capitalism and evokes disgust in the viewer – and not just in the vomit scenes. In any case, the film offers entertaining entertainment.
“Triangle of Sadness” will be in German cinemas from October 13th.