What to Watch This Weekend: Triangle of Sadness

Triangle of Sadness is a story about those who have wealth, those who do not, and the void of ignorance between them. Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean) are models and influencers who have agreed to embark on a luxurious yacht cruise in exchange for promoting it on social media. Among the other passengers are several rich industrialists from an assortment of backgrounds. Their commonality is their obliviousness. As the crew desperately tries to grant their guests’ wishes, the demands get increasingly more absurd and entitled. When a calamity occurs, the power dynamic suddenly shifts with everyone struggling to navigate their new social position.

What works in Triangle of Sadness is the satirical commentary on socioeconomic status. For writer and director Ruben Östlund (Force Majeure, The Square) each of his characters is a caricature of privilege. They act in ridiculous manners, but Östlund’s most powerful weapon is restraint. His socialites behave badly, but never to the point where Östlund loses the audience to incredulity. This allows Östlund to create some darkly comedic moments as he exposes the disparity between various perspectives, compliments of his well-crafted script. Finally, Östlund lets his creations run amok in ways that it almost feels like they are in control of the narrative journey. As such, Triangle of Sadness remains engaging throughout due to its unpredictability.

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Individuals who don’t enjoy cringe-worthy characters, or passive-aggressive attacks on the affluent and pampered, may not enjoy Triangle of Sadness as much as others. This is a film where unless one is in on the “joke,” Triangle of Sadness could feel meandering and pointless. But there in lays Östlund message—the behavior on display should strike most as abhorrent, but complicity reigns. This could feel off-putting and uncomfortable for some viewers. Others still might label Triangle of Sadness weird or strange, and this would not be an unfair assessment with the proper context.

Triangle of Sadness is an acquired taste. For those who enjoy allegory and symbolism, Triangle of Sadness offers something a bit different and will likely be remembered. If nothing else, it’s a fascinating film to dissect and discuss.

Recommended if you Enjoyed: The Menu, Parasite

Triangle of Sadness has been nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay and is available to rent or purchase on most streaming platforms.

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