Triangle of Sadness

A scathing stab at class divides.

The title doesn’t effectively sell how chaotically funny and eviscerating Ruben Ostlund’s social satire is.

He makes astute observations about small social niceties, but he pushes every awkward situation to the point where viewers gasp and wince.

There’s an interesting cast of mostly unknown actors (Harrelson excepted) and the film is very well staged. Maybe the Cannes accolade was a bit on the generous side, though.

For Östlund, subtlety is overrated. Triangle of Sadness shows us why he has a point. It’s a spectacular demolition of modern life, a disruptor movie full of ideas and nuance, as violent in its way as a Pieter Bruegel painting.

Triangle of Sadness doesn’t leave audiences with much to unpack thematically, but it’s clear-eyed and hilarious about the systems that enforce societal inequities and what might happen if they were ever to unravel.

As a satire on fashion and the super-rich, Ruben Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness has its moments, but isn’t entertaining or incisive enough to fully work.

For those who value smart class commentary, wrapped in top notch production design and entertainment, then “Triangle of Sadness” is one that’ll repulse the eyes but greatly satisfy the mind.

No more interesting or enlightening than your average troll pointing out that you, too, live in a society.

Despite some fascinating performances from Charlbi Dean Kriek and Woody Harrelson, director Ruben Östlund bites off more than he can chew and struggles to digest it.