In this article, we will explore the cinema of Ruben Östlund, the acclaimed director of Triangle of Sadness, which earned him the prestigious Palme d’Or at last year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Ruben Östlund is a Swedish writer and filmmaker who has garnered international recognition for his provocative and thought-provoking works. Known for his unflinching approach, Östlund never hesitates to challenge his audience, delivering unsettling experiences through films like Force Majeure and The Square. His latest movie, Triangle of Sadness, continues this trend, leaving viewers both captivated and uncomfortable.
This celebrated director, who has won the Palme d’Or twice and has been honored with the jury award at Cannes, is also a three-time Academy Award nominee. Beyond his accolades, Östlund’s unique directorial style and fascinating life story add to his intriguing presence in the world of cinema. Let’s delve into these aspects together.
Ruben Östlund’s life and directorial style
The young director, who remarked, “I discovered cinema quite late in life,” was born on the Swedish island of Styrsö. During his early years, Östlund worked seasonal jobs at ski resorts in the Alps, where he first encountered a professional camera. He has shared that he began his filmmaking journey there, gaining valuable experience by shooting ski films at the resort. Östlund directed his first feature film in 2004, titled The Guitar Mongoloid, but it wasn’t until 2014 that he achieved international recognition with the black comedy Force Majeure, a film set in a luxurious Alpine ski resort.
Force Majeure earned the Jury Prize at its Cannes Film Festival premiere, establishing Östlund’s place on the world stage. His next project, The Square, a sharp critique of the art world, competed at Cannes in 2017 and won the Palme d’Or, the festival’s highest honor. This marked the beginning of Östlund’s rise as a globally recognized filmmaker.
He earned his second Palme d’Or with Triangle of Sadness, a dark satire that unfolds after a shipwreck on a luxury yacht, catering only to the world’s wealthiest 1%. At the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, the director was awarded the same prestigious prize he had received for The Square. The film also secured three Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.
Known for addressing gender roles and class struggle through a unique, often politically satirical lens, Östlund frequently incorporates elements of black humor. One memorable example is Triangle of Sadness, which includes one of the longest, most uncomfortable scenes in cinematic history. “In the script, I made it clear I would go 10 steps further than the audience expects,” Östlund revealed on the Variety Awards Circuit podcast last week.
“At the age of 25, I really began to delve into the history of cinema. While I had seen some films before, it wasn’t until then that my passion truly developed,” he explains. “I gradually became a cinephile. Over time, I learned to appreciate the work of my colleagues and grasp the craft behind their films. But for me, it feels like I’m still discovering great cinema.”
Guitar Mongot (2004) – IMDB: 6.1
Ruben Östlund’s first feature-length film, the drama Gitarrmongot, won the FIPRESCI award at the Moscow International Film Festival.
The film portrays a 12-year-old boy obsessed with creating and performing punk songs, adult men playing with guns, and a neurotic woman seeking to destroy herself in a frenzy of misguided happiness. It presents a depiction of everyday life in Sweden unlike anything seen or heard before.
Incident Bancarie (2010) – IMDB: 6.9
This 2010 action-comedy film, a standout among Ruben Östlund’s short films, won the Golden Lion for Best Short Film at the Berlin International Film Festival. It also premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is regarded as one of Ruben Östlund’s breakthrough films.
Set in Stockholm in June 2006, two friends unexpectedly witness two masked men dismounting their motorcycles and attempting an unsuccessful bank robbery right before their eyes. A small crowd, shocked by the event unfolding in broad daylight, watches as the two ill-prepared and clueless robbers bungle their way through the heist, where everything suddenly goes wrong.
Involuntary (2008) – IMDB: 7.0
Involuntary, a 2008 film directed by Ruben Östlund and described as a “tragic comedy or comic tragedy,” earned an Oscar nomination and won several international film awards. Premiering in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes, Involuntary received generally positive reviews from critics.
In Sweden, thoughtless and inappropriate behavior can often be observed on the streets during the summer. Leffe, for example, enjoys showing off to his friends and telling crude jokes, especially when he’s been drinking. Meanwhile, an earnest primary school teacher struggles with setting his own boundaries and insists that his colleagues need some guidance. On a different note, one of two young girls, who love to pose for provocative photos and party, is found drunk in a park one night by a complete stranger.
The Square (2017) – IMDB: 7.1
The Square is a 2017 critically acclaimed black comedy film, written and directed by Ruben Östlund. The film stars Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss, Dominic West, and Terry Notary. The Square grossed $8.5 million at the box office, against a budget of $5.5 million, winning the Palme d’Or, the top prize at Cannes, and six European Film Awards, including Best Film.
Christian, a successful, confident man admired by his peers for his impeccable suits, is the esteemed chief curator of X-Royal, a contemporary art museum in Stockholm. He enjoys the good life, but when he falls victim to a complex pickpocketing scam, his world is turned upside down. In a desperate attempt to recover his stolen belongings, Christian embarks on an unorthodox path that leads to a series of mistakes. Ironically, he ends up doing the exact opposite of what The Square represents. Under these circumstances, could The Square be nothing more than a disturbing simulation of our deteriorating social reality?
Play (2011) – IMDB: 7.1
Play is a 2011 Swedish drama film directed by Ruben Östlund. The film sparked significant debate in the Swedish press due to its content, winning the Nordic Council Film Prize in 2012. There has been controversy over whether the film is a racist production, largely because of its raw portrayal of real-life events. Play received both an award and a nomination at the Cannes Film Festival and also won the Grand Jury Prize and the Best Director award at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
The film offers a sharp observation based on actual cases of bullying, set in Gothenburg, Sweden. A group of boys aged 12-14 robbed other children over 40 times between 2006 and 2008. Rather than resorting to physical violence, they carried out these robberies by pretending it was all part of a game and a gang.
Force Majeure (2014) – IMDB: 7.2
Written and directed by Ruben Östlund, the 2014 black comedy Force Majeure received widespread critical acclaim for its script and cinematography. The film won the Best Film award at Sweden’s local Guldbagge Awards and was hailed as one of the best films of 2014 by various film magazines. Shot in Les Arcs, a ski resort in Savoie, France, the film holds a special place in Östlund’s filmography, incorporating the cinematic knowledge and experience he gained from his time working at a ski resort.
The plot follows a Swedish family who head to the French Alps for a relaxing ski holiday. At first, everything seems perfect—the sun gently illuminates the slopes, and the family begins to believe that their trip will go smoothly. However, this sense of security quickly evaporates when an avalanche occurs while they are having lunch at a restaurant at the foot of the mountain.
As the crowd flees in panic, Ebba, the mother, instinctively tries to shield her children, calling out to her husband Tomas. In a shocking moment, Tomas—caught in a desperate rush—abandons his family to save himself. Although the disaster is ultimately averted, the emotional fallout has deeply shaken the family’s dynamic, leaving Tomas’s role as a father in question.
As Tomas grapples to reclaim his status as the head of the family, his marriage with Ebba begins to crumble, and their children are painfully aware of the tension. Matters become even more complicated when their friends, Mats, a divorcé, and his much younger girlfriend Fanni, join in on their escalating arguments.
Triangle of Sadness (2022) – IMDB: 7.4
Ruben Östlund’s English-language debut, the 2022 black comedy Triangle of Sadness, stars Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean, Dolly de Leon, Zlatko Burić, Henrik Dorsin, Vicki Berlin, and Woody Harrelson. The film premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, where it received an eight-minute standing ovation and won the prestigious Palme d’Or.
The film garnered generally positive reviews, with Dolly de Leon‘s performance receiving widespread acclaim. Her supporting role earned her nominations for both a Golden Globe and a BAFTA, marking her first recognition at these awards. Triangle of Sadness also won four European Film Awards, including Best Film, and was nominated for three major categories at the 95th Academy Awards: Best Film, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. Despite a budget of $15 million, the film grossed $25 million at the box office and achieved significant digital viewership.
The plot centers around Carl, a young model grappling with his bruised male ego after a series of poor decisions have severely impacted his career. His relationship with his successful influencer girlfriend Yaya is fraught with tension, particularly regarding money, and an argument between them lasts throughout the night. As Carl persists in this increasingly strained relationship, he slowly realizes that he is fighting a losing battle.
Their modern relationship, built on insecurities, fragile egos, and subtle manipulations, is riddled with uncertainty. After some time, Yaya invites Carl on a luxury yacht trip, hoping to mingle with the ultra-wealthy. However, this extravagant journey turns out to be anything but smooth. A violent storm rocks the multimillion-dollar yacht like a seesaw, and a catastrophic accident plunges their trip into chaos. The surviving passengers awaken to find themselves stranded on a deserted island, where they must confront the harsh reality of a genuine struggle for survival.
