#MovieReview: Triangle of Sadness

Triangle of Sadness is a study in excess, wrapping art-house satire in broad comedy staples and never fully realising either.

It is the most recent film from Swedish director Ruben Östlund, who has become known for his pitch-black social satires which have earned him global acclaim.

A favourite of the Cannes Film Festival, Triangle is Östlund’s second consecutive Palme d’Or (the equivalent of best picture) winner after 2017’s The Square.

But where The Square was exacting and darkly comedic in its take down of the contemporary high art world, Triangle seems unsure of what it is meant to be.

It leans into its own excess while attempting to reflect that of the ultra rich, feeling unfocused in its scope until the third act crystallises the story.

By definition, producing a satire is always going to get mixed reviews depending on the audience’s own take on the subject matter – the joke has to be on someone after all.

But what elevates some of the better recent satires such as The Death of Stalin, Get Out or Östlund’s own Force Majeure, is that they are laser-focused on their target.

Triangle blurs its themes, examining wealth disparity, fragile masculinity and political systems in equal measure, leaving the audience unsure of exactly what the takeaway should be.

This is not helped by a runtime of more than two-and-a-half hours which includes a bloated (sometimes literally) main act aboard a luxury superyacht.

Of course, any film that wins the Palme d’Or has obvious merits, but the big swings that Östlund takes here work less often than not, even if the ones that do work are fantastic.

There are legitimately hilarious moments, but they are overshadowed by an already infamous gross-out scene that dares you to look away from the screen.

For South Africans, the film also has the added sad element of including model turned actress Charlbi Dean’s breakout international performance.

Dean tragically died before the film’s release at the age of just 32. Playing an influencer/model, Dean is one of the standout performers and would seemingly have been on the precipice of further acclaim.

Triangle is certainly not a bad film, but it’s mileage will vary per audience member, with older viewers unlikely to enjoy it.

Watch it for a few memorable moments but be prepared to slog through the rest.

Rated 16 for scenes of Language, Sex, Prejudice and Drug Abuse.

2.5/5.

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