Triangle of Sadness Shapes A Round of Smiles

After winning the Palme D’Or at Cannes, the world was eagerly awaiting Triangle of Sadness to land near their neighbourhood. The latest installment from director Ruben Östlund made a grand entrance to a highly competitive film festival season. Post-COVID audiences are different, especially those in Toronto where the film was premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival. This “eat the rich” narrative surrounding the film is what excited most for Bong Joon-Ho‘s Parasite.

This film follows a fashion model couple led by Carl, played by Harris Dickinson, and the late Charlbi Dean as Yaya. The two who already questioning their own relationship and fidelity go on a cruise to escape. But with some ultra-rich people who are in the business of weapons of war.

Despite seeing that everyone on this cruise is either filthy rich or beautiful, there is an age gap among couples. Östlund emphasizes this when Carl and Yaya encounter Vera, played by Summyi Melles and Dimitry, played by Zlatko Buric. You see that Yaya is concerned about her appearance by taking pictures and being relevant in the social media world. Carl explains to Dimitry that Yaya is an influencer who receives lots of perks. The film comments on how the young don’t really have careers or high-paying jobs. They let their appearance do the talking. While older couples like Vera and Dimitry have worked towards becoming ultra-rich all their lives and finally feeling invincible.

The captain, played by Woody Harrelson, is a drunk recluse who only makes an appearance during the captain’s dinner. He is just a careless drunk who doesn’t have a care in the world for these people on his boat. Even after several attempts from his staff or absurd requests from his guests on board, the captain does not want to see or relate to them. While everyone is having the top-of-the-line coursed meal during the captain’s dinner, he settles for some burgers and fries with wine. But he does have an interesting political quote standoff with Dimitry where he shows his real stance with everyone on the boat after dinner and during a severe storm.

FERNTV loves the way how Östlund makes you feel up-to-date and hip from the moment the film starts. Furthermore, he makes you feel boojie from the get-go as if you are one of them on the cruise. But it’s a setup to show you how things can change at a drop of a dime. Director Östlund shows you that all the money in the world sometimes can’t save you from the most unbearable conditions let alone death. He relies on atmosphere and Shakespearean pathetic fallacy to show the darkness and transition when one is headed toward rock bottom.

It’s so sad to see the potential in late/model actress Charlbi Dean who passed days before TIFF. But you have to give it to Filipina actress Dolly De Leon for stealing the show. Her small stature really stands tall in the second half of the film when things turn upside down. She plays Abigail the toilet manager who heads a group of OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers). They work behind the scenes and see to it that the guests are having the best experience in the utmost cleanest environment. This is an example of the colonization of Abigail’s race. But on the other end, it’s the resilience of her race that shines bright when times are bad.

This is the genius of Ostlund’s filmmaking of how plastic the wealthy and the beautiful are. They just end up in the ocean just like all the plastic in the world. Looking ugly and useless.