Why a palm of gold in the film Triangle of Sadness (Filterless) ?
The question has been asked several times since last Saturday. Why did you give a particular palm of gold in particular? Why did Ruben Östlund have a very closed club member for directors who received more than one palm of gold?
Indeed, Ruben Östlund had already won the Palme d’Or in 2017, with his satirical film The Squarewhy give him another?
It is obvious that among the films of the official selection of this 75th Edition of the Cannes Film Festival, none of them really stood out compared to the others. There were several favorites, some 4/5 films which were worth more or less and which would also have deserved to win this award, each for different reasons.
So why Triangle of Sadness ?
Is it because Triangle of Sadness Is a satire of the elitist worlds of fashion and megarches? The title itself of the film sets the tone, since the triangle of Sadness, is a term of the world of fashion for the deep V fold which appears between the eyebrows with stress or age. An embarrassing, unsightly fold, but that a little botox can repair when you have the means. Botox whose people concerned in the film use and often even abuse.
The theme is not new. The class struggle has already been discussed several times in different films. Discussions around different economic systems as well. As well as mockery on the rich. What is different this time is the way of telling. A particular way of telling, mocking, going to the extreme, until the embarrassment sometimes but also laughter, in order to make the spectator think, and especially to mark it so that he keeps the memory of the various scenes, because precisely different.
It is thus for example that at the beginning of the film, the twisted, but realistic scene, of the discussion between the two young Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean), about the addition to pay at the restaurant is dragging. Each time, it feels like the subject is closed and that we can move on, but each time we realize that it is not. Carl insists more and more. Adding an argument or a remark to relaunch the debate. Why is it up to him to pay the bill?
Carl is angry because he thinks that each time they go out together, Yaya arranges so as not to pay the bill. He talks about it again and again, without getting bored. And even launches the argument that it is because he believes in gender equality. Now we end up noticing that she earns more money than him, and that ultimately it is he who lives in his hooks. The height, in the last part of the film, when they are on the island, delivered to themselves, we will realize that Carl is in no way interested in gender equality, and that he really has no qualms about being maintained. He is actually for sale at most offender, a gigolo.
Who are Carl and Yaya? Is it a couple? Out of love or out of interest? Partners? Carl and Yaya are “influencers” or “Instagrammer”. Their life is made of a false appearance. They have a real life, and another life for photos, for followers …
Thanks to this “profession”, Yaya was offered a luxury cruise, and Carl accompanies him.
Cannes 2022 – Triangle of Sadness by Ruben Östlund
This is where the second part of the film begins. Carl and Yaya are in fact the poorest customers of this cruise. On this boat, more than rich couples, whose life is made to appear and whims. The director will force everyone’s features, caricature them even. For example, we will meet a Russian billionaire who has made a fortune thanks to the industrial fertilizer trade. “” I am selling shit!“, He repeats. Another customer will require that all the boat’s staff will take a bath. Can we refuse it when she pays?
And then, the commander’s dinner arrives (Woody Harrelson). A gala evening, a gastronomic dinner. Everything could have been perfect, if the commander, permanently drunk, had only imposed this dinner was organized during a evening when there would be a terrible storm.
During this dinner, the guests will start by feeling uncomfortable, by having seasickness, and then vomiting, to be completely sick. And there, the director gives himself to heart. He will drown the yacht in vomiting and excrement. It overflows everywhere. The boat begins to be overwhelmed by this vomit and these excrement. Such a scene can only make an impression.
As much as other scenes, with unforgettable aftershocks, such as the little couple, so kind, but which has won their fortune thanks to the trade in hand grenades, and whose wife will say ” Oh Winston, isn’t that one of ours? Just before a grenade exploded to him in the face.
And then, the third part of the film. Some survivors on a desert island. How will they face? How are they going to survive?
On this island, their immense fortune will be useless. She will not be able to buy them anything. They will have to manage to eat. However, the only person who knows how to fish and make fire is Abigail (Dolly de Leon), the toilet manager on the yacht. And this is where all the reports change. What Abigail includes, who hurries to take advantage of the situation and thus become the leader of the group. One of the characters offers her to exchange his luxurious watch for food, she refuses. Finally, what value has a luxury watch when you can’t even get food and therefore satisfy a vital need? The value of objects is quite relative!
A beautiful film. A very well written script. Very well thought out details. Funny situations. But above all a way of telling and an interesting staging that push for reflection, while making people laugh. A film that cannot be forgotten and scenes that will remain engraved in the memory of spectators.
Neïla Driss
