In Triangle of Sadness, writer/director Ruben Östlund tells an offbeat tale of class contrast that is an interesting take on human behavior amid change.
Divided into three parts, the story introduces a young couple, Carl and Yaya, on a luxury cruise aboard a deluxe yacht populated with eclectic personalities and wealthy business types all of whom are pampered by a dutiful crew led by a reclusive, eccentric captain (Woody Harrelson). Among the topics of dinner conversation are philosophy, Capitalism, Communism, and Marxism even as buffeting rough seas become the ultimate test of intestinal fortitude. When the boat wanders into dangerous waters, it results in a shipwrecked group of survivors who must learn to coexist and survive with whatever makeshift hierarchy is needed.
The pieces are there for a potentially great story, but viewer reaction may vary with how they are assembled (with its deliberately truncated ending). A couple of minor scenes go nowhere in this unconventional narrative that mixes characters and the dinner from Hell. It has a slight feel of The Gods Must Be Crazy and recalls Swept Away. There are characters we get to know and others who make brief appearances while minor characters are suddenly thrust into the spotlight. It’s a study of contrasts between not just the passengers and the staff, but the staff and the cleaning workers. It’s also a tale of observing protocol and subsequently breaking those rules when faced with extreme adversity.
Some
of the visuals are outrageous, perhaps excessively so; think of Monty Python’s Meaning of Life. The film
generates some humorous moments, as it attempts to walk a fine line between
satire and drama. One thing is sure; you may never think of a cruise the same
way again.
***
of **** stars Amazon Prime
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