Swedish director Ruben Östlund is back with Triangle of Sadness, a satirical film that takes aim at the ultra-wealthy. This film is his second to win the prestigious Palme d’Or at Cannes and his most entertaining and arguably best shot at a mainstream American studio film. Östlund is known for his critiques of gender, class, and power, dressed in the language of elitist cringe comedy. Triangle of Sadness stars Harris Dickinson and the late Charlbi Dean as a fashion-model couple, Carl and Yaya, who accept a trip on a luxury super-yacht, along with other guests who represent a range of monstrous self-absorption and lack of redeeming qualities.
The Rich and Powerful Get their Comeuppance in Triangle of Sadness
The second act of the film is a maliciously funny and mean-spirited climax that is cathartic, but the third act is a bit underwhelming, as the message of power corrupting those who have it is a bit obvious and bland compared to the more robust elements of the film. The other guests on the yacht include a Russian billionaire (Zlatko Buric stealing every scene he is in), elderly arms dealers, a tech mogul, and more, all served by a diligent ice-blonde manager and her accommodating staff. Woody Harrelson plays the captain of the yacht and has a standout performance, but it’s best not to know too much about what transpires after the midway point of the film.
The tone and setting shift significantly in the back end of the film, giving Dolly de Leon a chance to shine as Abigail, a middle-aged custodial worker on the ship who may have a better understanding of Machiavelli and trade economics than anyone else on board. The film is Östlund’s least subtle, but it’s also his most absurdly entertaining, and it proves that money talks and beauty walks in a world where the rich and powerful treat others as commodities. Triangle of Sadness is a hilarious and cutting take on the lives of the wealthy, and it will leave audiences laughing and cringing in equal measure.
“It is an honor to have gotten to know and work with her,” Ruben Östlund wrote on Instagram following her death. “Charlbi had a care and sensitivity that lifted her colleagues and the entire film crew. The thought that she will not be by our side in the future makes me very sad.”
