The first act focuses on two model couples, Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean). The two are engaged in a "transactional" relationship to increase their respective social media influence. Although both of them admit that they liked each other for real, it is not smooth sailing. They still fight over petty things such as their dinner bill, which quickly spirals into heated discussions about gender roles.
The next act sees Carl and Yaya aboard a fancy ship with an always drunk shipmaster (Woody Harrelson). Along with them are an uber-rich yet dysfunctional group of entrepreneurs. Paula (Vicky Berlin), the strict head of staff of the mega yacht, wants to make a good impression and maybe get paid more, so she tells her people to always do whatever the guests ask. They were cruising through a heavy storm, and after a series of unfortunate events, the boat immediately fell into chaos until it capsized.
The last act happens on an unidentified island. The story now follows a ship worker named Abigail (Dolly De Leon) as she tends to the needs of the surviving guests, including Carl and Yaya. After realizing that she was the only person capable of living on the deserted island, she decided to reverse the tide and leverage her power over them.
Ruben Östlund's "Triangle of Sadness" won the prestigious Palme d'Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. This is the second win for the Swedish director in the competition. It is also the opening film at the Sarajevo Film Festival and the 10th QCinema International Film Festival.
"Triangle of Sadness" gets its title from the part of a person’s face between the eyebrows and above the nose. By manipulating this patch of skin, models can control the emotions they’re projecting. If it's tense, someone can express bewilderment and admonishment. In the film, it represents the wealthy's inability to control their anxiety and concern. We see them voice their concern about the littlest of things. It’s absurd and a form of mockery.
It gets really interesting when Dolly De Leon finally takes control. After the shipwreck, we see these affluent people struggling to live without someone to take care of them. They are powerless. And when Abigail shows her skill, it is apparent that she’s the captain of the crew now.
Somehow it is funny that these people quickly bow to her. They're like fireflies drawn to Abigail's light of power. They flock to her when they realize that they cannot live without her. And she happily uses her influence over them, like they do over the inferiors. Östlund makes interesting observations about human tendencies, currency, and the lengths we will go for power throughout the sequence of events.
"Triangle of Sadness" is reminiscent of Bong Joon-ho’s "Parasite," with "Lord of the Flies" and "Survivor" touches here and there. It has these effective grand gestures that help to push the film's theme. It is careful not to sink or indulge too much in its complexity, though, which is an admirable restraint on such a premise.
"Triangle of Sadness" shows excellent performances from all of its cast. Even Woody Harrelson, who has only a few minutes on screen, shines. This is Dolly De Leon’s film, though. She’s a talent that’s unlike any other, able to exude firmness and deviousness inside Abigail's timid shell with grace.
In essence, "Triangle of Sadness" illustrates chaos in the most absorbing way possible. It finds no satisfaction in giving the power it holds to one person, as it makes an example out of them. Power corrupts people. And that’s the absolute truth.
4.5/5
