Triangle of Sadness is a razor-sharp, darkly comic dissection of beauty, power, and privilege, a film that gleefully skewers the upper class while forcing its audience to confront the absurdity of modern social hierarchies. Winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes 2022, it continues Östlund’s fascination with the fragility of status and the performative nature of morality, following in the footsteps of his previous works Force Majeure and The Square.
Directed by: Ruben Östlund, Starring: Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean, Woody Harrelson
The story is divided into three distinct acts, each exploring a different “triangle” of class and control. We begin in the world of fashion, where model couple Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean) navigate their relationship amid superficial beauty standards and gendered power struggles. The film then transitions to a luxury yacht cruise filled with the ultra-rich, a grotesque and hilarious parade of excess. Finally, the tables turn when the survivors of a shipwreck find themselves stranded on a deserted island, where the once-invisible cleaning lady Abigail (Dolly de Leon) becomes the unlikely leader.
Östlund’s direction is both meticulous and mischievous. His camera lingers uncomfortably long on moments of social awkwardness, turning them into excruciating comedy. The infamous dinner sequence aboard the yacht, a spiraling symphony of seasickness, vomit, and chaos, is one of the most unforgettable scenes in recent cinema, balancing slapstick humor with biting social critique.
Performances across the board are strong. Harris Dickinson brings a fragile insecurity to Carl, while Charlbi Dean (in her final film role before her tragic passing) delivers a nuanced portrayal of ambition and vulnerability. Woody Harrelson’s appearance as the Marxist ship captain adds an extra layer of absurd philosophical banter, particularly during his drunken debate with a Russian capitalist. But it’s Dolly de Leon who ultimately steals the show, her transformation from silent servant to commanding leader is both thrilling and deeply satisfying.
Triangle of Sadness isn’t subtle and that’s part of its charm. Its satire is broad, its symbolism heavy-handed, and its pacing deliberately uneven. Yet it’s this very boldness that makes it so effective. Östlund dares us to laugh, cringe, and question our own complicity in the systems he mocks.
A brilliantly grotesque satire that turns wealth, beauty, and power inside out. Ruben Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness is a chaotic, funny, and discomforting mirror held up to our times, a cinematic experience as messy and memorable as the world it portrays.
Quotes from Triangle of Sadness (2022)
Captain Thomas Smith (Woody Harrelson):
“The only difference between socialism and capitalism is how you waste money.”
Dimitry (Zlatko Burić):
“I sell shit.”
— (referring to his fertilizer business, one of the film’s sharpest satirical jokes).
Captain Thomas Smith:
“In the name of the revolution, eat the rich… but save the leftovers.”
Carl (Harris Dickinson):
“Why do I always have to pay? Just because I’m the man?”
— A small argument about the restaurant bill that sets the tone for the film’s gender and class commentary.
Yaya (Charlbi Dean):
“You’re the good-looking one. That’s your job.”
Dimitry (drunkenly quoting Lenin during the chaos):
“Property is theft!”
Captain Thomas Smith (broadcasting to the passengers during the storm):
“Ladies and gentlemen… the ship is going under.”
— delivered with eerie calm as the luxury cruise literally and symbolically collapses.
Abigail (Dolly de Leon):
“Here, I am the captain.”
— A powerful reversal of hierarchy after the shipwreck.
Yaya:
“If it’s a good photo, we can eat later.”
— capturing the emptiness of influencer culture.
Carl (reflecting on status):
“Money makes you powerful. Looks make you valuable.”
