Review - Triangle of Sadness

Directed by: Ruben Ostlund
Written by: Ruben Ostlund
Starring: Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean, Dolly de Leon, Zlatko Buric, Henrik Dorsin, Vicki Berlin, Woody Harrelson
Running Time: 149 minutes
Rating: 4/5

Ruben Ostlund’s Triangle of Sadness comes to TIFF following his Palm D’ore win at Cannes earlier in the year. This being my first movie and review of TIFF it was a fantastic start to kick off the festival. The film itself is a satirical takedown of the rich and famous and those who are faking it as well. Told over three parts the film mostly centres around the relationship of Yaya (Charlbi Dean) and Carl (Harris Dickinson) and their experience on a mega super yacht, of which they have been awarded free tickets for their influencing ways.

The film itself pulls no punches in skewering the rich and famous, whether that be the shallowness of being an influencer and the insane preparation put into it in order to pick the perfect shot. Or the variety of guests that claim that they are all in this together, while being waited on hand and foot and drinking champagne. Clearly Ostlund has seen the hypocrisy in society and shows a gigantic mirror towards it. Seeing some of these people get their comeuppance is both insanely satisfying and hilarious. When you are watching a person on a toilet both shit themselves and puke all over the bathroom they tend to lose the glitz and glamour of their image they so desperately try to curate for the outside world. I will also say there is one perfect scene of two despicable characters getting their just desserts, and it is just great.

“The film itself pulls no punches in skewering the rich and famous, whether that be the shallowness of being an influencer and the insane preparation put into it in order to pick the perfect shot.”

Coming off the two years of the pandemic being cooped up at home and watching a variety of rich and famous celebrities sing Let it Be to me from their Beverly Hill mansion’s made me understand completely why Ostlund would want to chose this topic too skew. I don’t want to give away too much but his third act flips the script and shows how those that would be considered lesser in our society can be influenced by power and what they will do to keep it.

If there is any negatives toward the film I felt that it was a tad too long, being a filmmaker myself I never like to criticize people’s work as they have a distinct vision but I felt that certain sections could be trimmed slightly to make it a bit shorter. Regardless I highly recommend this film and you should check it out as I was laughing throughout.