by Heath Lynch, Contributing Writer
It’s always a unique adventure to go see the latest winner of the Palme d’Or from the Cannes Film Festival. In recent years the award has had a history of going to some quirky and eccentric films such as Parasite and Titane. This time we have director Ruben Östlund’s English-language debut film, Triangle of Sadness, and it is no different. Originally titled Sans filtre (which I feel is a much better title, and I’m sad they changed it), this film is a wild romp of satirical black comedy that weaves its way through our current socio-political climate in an aggressive manner which few films dare to even approach. Triangle of Sadness is an incendiary rebuke of the wealthy and the powerful that doesn’t shy away from holding a mirror up to the audience’s expectations and pointing out how we are not any better when left to our own devices. More than anything, this movie is one hell of a good time, insanely funny, and easily one of the best films of the year.
This raucous black comedy follows Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean), two high-end fashion models and social media influencers. Outside of their high profiles and statuses, they have a fairly normal relationship where they debate about gender roles and argue over who will pay the check at dinner. But their life goes sideways when they win a free trip on a luxury yacht for the ultra-rich. Everything seems normal up front, but the drunk, alcoholic Captain (Woody Harrelson) and the eccentric passengers set off a sequence of events that will change everyone’s lives forever.
Right from the beginning of this film, you will get the sense that you’re in for something special. It becomes both a visual treat to behold, as well as a witty, cerebral think-piece that will have you cackling at, and inquisitorial about, its dialogue. Our opening depicts a whole bunch of male models on a go-see for a potential runway job. In one foul swoop, the scene showcases so much. It displays how the fashion industry looks down on the lowly peasant class that buys their product. It’s snobbish and condescending. But while these models give us their grumpy serious faces to look down upon the audience, the directors and marketing agents at the fashion company are looking down on the models themselves. It immediately sets this movie off on a neverending deconstruction of power dynamics as they relate to all kinds of individuals through all walks of life.
What the film accomplishes with these dazzling conversations is truly dynamic. You’ll see a 20-minute argument about who should pay for a check at the dinner table and be absolutely riveted as it goes into gender roles, conversations about being the financial head of a household, manipulative behavior, and power dynamics within society, all within a relationship. All the while, it’s making you smile and laugh at the absurdity of such spoiled people behaving so childishly.
By the time our characters are on their luxury yacht, the movie really accelerates into high gear. It continues to take stabs at the influence of power on the client service industry, how easy it is to get someone fired, the misconception about the customer always being right, and what happens when being polite goes too far, as it becomes a detriment to your other services. This all culminates in what is easily the best scene of the movie – the Captain’s Dinner, an elegant multi-course meal aboard this yacht in which the captain sits down with the passengers to serve immaculate dishes of food that most people could only dream of, but it all goes horribly wrong… in the best way possible. By the time the soundtrack begins blaring “New Noise” by Refused, all chaos is breaking loose. You are left with nothing to do but cackle in glee as you shake in your chair due to fits of laughter. I will say, if you are squeamish and have a problem with seeing people vomit, it’s very possible this movie is not for you. Or at least this scene. However, if you can stomach this kind of humor, you are in for one of the funniest 15-to-20 minute segments I have ever seen in the history of film. I was dying laughing, and so was everyone else in the theater. The trailers don’t lie; I highly recommend seeing this with a group of people. Seeing these idiots vomit all over each other, and themselves, as they slide around this ship is a riot.
The way this film beautifully lambastes the rich and wealthy elite by making them look so foolish, and so tarnished by their own behavior, is perfect. It’s a satisfying feeling that many would appreciate.
Even after the film reaches its high point, it continues to further explore power dynamics. There’s a statement about war profiteering that is handled with one of the greatest uses of irony you could ever see. It then evolves into a larger conversation about the value of being rich and wealthy in a world shattered by class divisions. Yet, this is where it gets quite interesting; because while the movie certainly loves to make fun of the rich and famous, it does not necessarily state that the world would be a better place with them or without them. It has the idea that we might just be screwed either way. This becomes even more apparent as the film starts to feature an American socialist having a drunken debate with a Russian capitalist. It becomes heightened as the movie reaches its wild third act in which all forms of societal structure are broken down in a hilarious modern interpretation of Lord of the Flies. The presumed lower class begin usurping those with wealth due to necessary skills, people start betraying their relationships just to gain advantages, and history repeats itself as the world’s first occupation, sex work, shows up as the first occupation once again in a prominent way.
Simply put, this whole movie is brilliant. It puts in more commentary about social change and how society works, or doesn’t work, than most movies ever hope to even talk about. It does this while delivering an incredibly entertaining story that will have you captivated from beginning to end. Above all, it manages to deliver fully realized characters in unique situations that lead to more relatable and humorous situations. I cannot understate the comedy throughout this movie. Sure, it’s very dark humor, but if you’re into that, this is about as good as it gets. It’s impressive how this movie manages to maintain its lighthearted sense of humor throughout all of these complex and serious topics that drive so much conversation. Especially when it comes to terms with the fact that there might be a better system out there, but none of us are really capable of achieving it. Because, at the end of all things, we are all selfishly looking out for number one, and we will do what we need to take care of ourselves.
Hats off to Östlund for this directing performance. He had such a clear understanding of his vision, and it would’ve been so simple for him to get lost along the way, but he pulls it through to the end. While the third act may get a little slow in terms of its pacing, especially compared to the first and second act, which fly around at a mile a minute, overall this is a well crafted film. He’s also able to garner solid performances from his cast. Dickinson is great. While he may not have made the biggest impression last year with The King’s Man, and he only had a small parts earlier this year in Where the Crawdads Sing and See How They Run, this role here has earned him the leeway to find a whole bunch of new interesting projects. I look forward to seeing what he has to offer in the years to come. Props as well to Dean. She’s doing great work here as her subtle mannerisms mixed with her overt annoyances make for such a frustrating character, and that’s perfect. It’s such a tragedy that she died earlier this year at such an incredibly young age. I would’ve loved to see what else she could’ve done with her career. Of course, you’ve got to also love Harrelson as the eccentric captain, who is just plainly drunk off his ass the entire movie, not giving a remote care about anyone in the world, including himself. It looked like it was such a liberating performance for him, and he clearly had a lot of fun with it.
Triangle of Sadness, or Sans filtre (meaning, “without filter”), is fantastic. Exactly like its original title says, it shows how shallow and ugly everyone can be, even the rich elite, when they show their true colors and act out to their own selfish ends. This is the definition of a well-crafted film. It’s lovingly directed and well acted, both of which are working off a tremendous original script that delivers poignant social commentary, while not skipping out on an interesting narrative premise, and it’s full of colorful dialogue and humor. This film stands as a high recommendation from me, and I encourage everyone to see it. It’s well worth your time.
Score: 9/10
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