[리뷰]’Triangle of Sorrow’ A poignant black comedy by a young genius director

Winner of the Palme d’Or at the 75th Cannes Film Festival
Director Ruben Östlund won two awards
Upside down capitalist society… biting satire

Several male models stand side by side in jeans and shirtless. At this time, the photographer orders. “Now put on the Balenciaga face. This time H&M, Balenciaga, H&M, Balenciaga…” Models raise their chins and lower their eyes to the sound of the luxury brand Balenciaga, making haughty expressions, but smile kindly and brightly to the sound of HNAM. Laughter bursts out at the cynical and ridiculous satire on capitalist society. The movie ‘Triangle of Sorrow’ begins by implying that classes exist in modern society.

Director Ruben Östlund’s film ‘The Triangle of Sorrow’ won the Palme d’Or, the top prize, at the 75th Cannes Film Festival last year. It received a standing ovation for 8 minutes when it was screened at Cannes, drawing keen attention. It was applauded for portraying class issues in capitalist society as a black comedy, reminiscent of director Bong Joon-ho’s ‘Parasite’, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2019. Ruben became the ninth director to win the top prize twice at Cannes, holding his second Palme d’Or in his arms after ‘The Square’ (2017).

An influencer model couple on a luxury cruise as a sponsor is among rich white people. Travelers show off their wealth calmly, saying that they can buy this boat if they want to. They do not hesitate to make unreasonable demands to the flight attendants by putting their capital power first.

During a dinner hosted by the captain, the cruise is swept away by a huge wave, causing chaos. Even at the moment when the ship is rocking violently, toilet cleaners are busy cleaning up sea water and passengers’ vomit.

Eventually, the luxury cruise ship encounters an unexpected situation and is wrecked. Eight people, including a model couple, a Russian tycoon and a flight attendant, wake up on a nearby uninhabited island.

The film is divided into three parts. Part 1 tells the story of model couple Carl and Aya, and Part 2 looks at the hypocrisy of the rich against the backdrop of a luxurious cruise ship. Part 3 deals with the story of class overthrow on an uninhabited island. It is invisible, but it raises interesting questions by illuminating a class society that exists openly.

Soon the ranks are overthrown. A worker who was in charge of cleaning on a cruise becomes the leader of the pack. He has the ability to hunt fish and adapt to the wild on an uninhabited island where expensive jewelry and Rolex watches do not have any power. Without doing anything, the white people, who took help as a natural privilege, soon accept their changed position and adapt to the group.

The film overturns the world over and over again, subverting the invisible class firmly established in modern society. It scathingly ridicules the privileged class of the highest class in capitalist society. It satirizes vomit and poop and places them in a poignant way.

A black comedy well imbued with bitter criticism, ridicule, laughter and cynicism, it leaves a strong sense of fun and aftertaste. Rather than injecting any meaning or conveying a message, it is a ‘triangle of sorrow’ that boldly asks questions to the audience and smiles softly. Running time 147 minutes. For audiences aged 15 and over. Released on May 17th.