TRIANGLE OF SADNESS Q&A with Ruben Östlund, Harris Dickinson, Dolly De Leon | TIFF 2022

The team behind TRIANGLE OF SADNESS in conversation with TIFF in advance of its premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. Ruben Östlund’s latest Palme d’Or-winning satire explores hypocrisy, greed, and thirst for power amongst the idle rich (and the luxury-cruise industry).
The 47th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 8 to 18, 2022. For more, visit tiff.net.
A satirist and provocateur, Swedish auteur Ruben Östlund - two-time winner of the Cannes’ Palme d’Or - relishes the controversial aspects of his work. He once joked that he was thrilled Sweden’s divorce rate skyrocketed after the release of his best-known film, Force Majeure. His latest, Triangle of Sadness, for which he won his second Palme, may be his most provocative work yet; it’s certainly his fiercest and funniest. The first of the film’s three chapters follows models Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean). Untroubled by self-awareness or decorum, they can barely get through dinner without going for each other’s throats. In the second chapter, the couple embarks on a luxury cruise - a ship of self-destructive fools who believe themselves invincible due to their money and power. The captain (Woody Harrelson) leads as privileged and wasted a life as his passengers, yet espouses, ad nauseum, the virtues of Marxism. In one grotesquely baroque (and hilarious) scene, he gets blind drunk and argues about Marx, over the ship’s PA, with the perma-drunk Russian businessman Dimitry (Zlatko Burić, from the Pusher trilogy), as the boat is beset by turbulent waters and the passengers collectively toss their very expensive cookies. If the earlier chapters suggest classic social critiques such as Luis Bunuel’s The Exterminating Angel, the incendiary final chapter recalls apocalyptic visions like Jean-Luc Godard’s Weekend or Ingmar Bergman’s Shame. It expands the scope of the film, exposing how our addiction to comfort and, especially, power over one another lays waste to common sense and the last vestiges of altruism. A troubling, gleefully misanthropic social satire, Triangle of Sadness will, like Force Majeure, spark endless debate - and no doubt wreak havoc on the cruise industry. STEVE GRAVESTOCK
Ruben Östlund was born in Styrso, Sweden, and studied directing at the University of Gothenburg. His films include the short Incident by a Bank (09), which won the Berlin Golden Bear, and the features The Guitar Mongoloid (04), Involuntary (08), and the Festival selections Play (11), Force Majeure (14), which won the Cannes Un Certain Regard jury prize, and The Square (17), which won the Palme d’Or. His latest, Triangle of Sadness (22), also won the Palme d’Or.

[@soupnfresh]

The last few scenes were heartbreaking knowing Charlbi is no longer here.

[@Shay-vj3wh]

completely :(

[@Shay-vj3wh]

Truly one of the best films I've ever seen in every way. The dialogue, story, how eye opening and real it was, the acting, cinematography/music, how raw and disturbing *those* scenes were lol (still gagging), just incredible in all the ways.. it was such an emotional, unique, and captivating film. Endlessly creative and absolutely deserved an oscar! SO so heartbroken about Charlbi though. Such a beautiful soul and woman, hope she's resting high.. she certainly left an impact

[@goodvibesvideos9704]

So Happy for Dolly De Leon who is getting a lot of praise for her performance in the movie.

[@itswrongtokillanimalsifyou2837]

She played it with such (natural) charm that I'm not at all surprised.

[@krampus1094]

So so. Someone with a viola davis aura would've done better.

[@m.butterfly7452]

@@krampus1094 nah..Viola Davis is great but Dolly killed it as well..

[@adamw.7169]

@@krampus1094 that was not a role for Viola Davis though. That would be like RDJ playing Superman. Great actor, but would not be good in that role.

[@krampus1094]

@@adamw.7169 can you read?

[@dragicasusnik4851]

rest among angels, beautiful, sweet Charlbi

[@chupeauxx]

Kakva tuga! Znate li zašto je umrla, prosto sam zatečen? Veliki Pozdrav, Dragice!

[@justdollthings]

@@chupeauxxi forgot what it was but she had a medical condition and one day it randomly flared up and took over her

[@charlesmorais5876]

Harris Dickinson is an amazing actor and a pretty handsome guy too. I love his British accent.

[@Torchiefied]

Wow! I sat next to Harris Dickinson on the plane from Heathrow to Budapest back in 2018 when he went to have his costume-fitting done for the movie Maleficent 2 with Angelina Jolie where he played Prince Philip. I had a selfie with him. Ha! It's on one of my KZbin videos. What a sound bloke and we had a casual conversation on that British Airways flight, and now he stars with Dolly de Leon.

[@lizpulian1734]

Great work, Dolly! You're so brilliant in this movie! May you be awarded more roles with equal intensity of substance!

[@pathcarcer]

Dolly de Leon! 10/10

[@allabouteve2390]

so heart breaking what happened to the lead actress Charlbi Dean, so unfair, and this movie is so good and thought provoking!

[@edm5378]

Just don't blame big pharma products, according to her brother.

[@jcmea13]

@@edm5378she had her spleen removed so that’s what caused it

[@lifesabeach1810]

It is easy to relate to Abigail, as a character who seems to know how to live in a rural, coastal area in the Philippines…fishing, making fire looks like survival skills to some but to her, it is just a way of life. Dolly, your are amazing!

[@AlexNoiret]

This movie is amazing!!!!!

[@captainpugwash8206]

Absolutely adored this film!

[@utan711]

Dolly is such an international star.

[@Karen-ho2he]

It was compelling and thought provoking and definitely had shock value

[@sense0fpurpose]

Wow, what an insightful review.

[@Febrinasvlogs]

agree. shock therapy indeed

[@eldev4432]

That woman looked like she was about to cry at the first mention of colleague's name

[@fabianthome7698]

Bro, even me... life's sad but it's sadder when people die young.

[@lizpulian1734]

Yeah, it did look like Dolly De Leon was about to cry.

[@jaeesmane5540]

Dolly is the fan favorite. i love that lol

[@NobuhikuObayashi]

Film of the year!

[@allabouteve2390]

along with TAR... Not that often we watch so profound thought provoking films

[@barearmz2794]

@@allabouteve2390 Yeah. I thought why was this crap ever made.

[@fredcolina4231]

Amazing Dolly 👏👏

[@randomarmy8541]

Harris is freakin' gorgeous!

[@jimmyo1123]

You aint kidding

[@aaryanyadav1386]

Man such a intriguing movie waiting for it 🥶

[@NobuhikuObayashi]

Film of the decade

[@biohead66]

@@NobuhikuObayashi good movie but best of the decade? no

[@varunchaudhary1443]

I was really sad and shocked, knowing the actress who played Yaya is dead.

[@itswrongtokillanimalsifyou2837]

Someone name me a few films that require more overall skill from their directors and crew, because my searches come back empty. Östlund's elegant walking of the tightrope of tone, along with Fredrik Wenzels stupidly high composition skills have me in awe, and I'm super critical when it comes to any art form.

[@motorlife7037]

Coen brothers- Fargo

[@itswrongtokillanimalsifyou2837]

@@motorlife7037 Thanks, I'll have to watch it again. I didn't look at movies the same way back when I first saw it. Anything specific to keep an eye out for?

[@motorlife7037]

@@itswrongtokillanimalsifyou2837 no, just enjoy the ride. but all by Coen brothers is good and then Agnieszka Holland, polish director, Susanne Bier.

[@itswrongtokillanimalsifyou2837]

@@motorlife7037 Will do, thanks a lot!

[@rosalooze9168]

"[...] not putting blame on the individual."

[@ljac_1314]

harris looks traumatized! hahaha

[@MjYosh]

I thought of a different scene when the moderator asked about the “boat scene”

[@endgamefond]

I just watched the film. Damn, her acting was so good. What a talent. What causes of her death? Also, did Yaya die in the end of the film??

[@squirrel6837]

Ig she did die in the end

[@umbrellawitch504]

Same here, i believe that she died

[@etrnlygr8tful]

Spoiler alert*

[@barearmz2794]

@@squirrel6837 Well that's a shame because everybody on the boat lived. Apart from the Russian's wife that is.

[@valintong889]

That is actually open to interpretation but the actress Dolly said her character would definitely kill Yaya.

[@ozzy_delete]

Ruben is so cool

[@jimmyo1123]

Good movie

[@sking3014]

Dolly is amazing.

[@mariaa3155]

IFLY Harrissss 😍🥰

[@therankingguru6960]

I love Dolly de Leon

[@voornaamachternaam6159]

One of the moral of the story is: everyone in a position of power wishes to hold on to it and will kill for IT. Some people have the keys to leave the little hell hole but won't and won't grant people to leave, so they can keep taking advantage while playing the game. Jesus warned us for this. There are a lot more of interpretations for this movie ofcourse. The ship and I-and are symbols of where we live in and how we are in a sence are cannibalising each other.

[@nikhgracelampa15]

charlbiii T^T

[@jcflores8386]

after this boring MFF deyhmm!! can we make a massive support to this movies in the philippines? dolly de leon deserved a million dollars worth for this movies

[@boomontory38]

First half of movie was very very good, second half was good.

[@michaelgreene4816]

Was all great.

[@lizpulian1734]

It is the 2nd half which made it all the more great, dude!

[@mybestideas1]

Men, on average, are paid 27% more. Plus they don't need to spend as much on clothes, makeup, hair as women do. As she is spending money on this to impress him, he should pay the bill.

[@newsofistanbul]

DOLLY DE LEON (L)(L)(L)

[@cleverallan]

Thank You Academy for SNUBBING DOLLY DE LEON at the 95th Academy Awards!!! MABUHAY ANG PINOY!!! PWE!!!

[@artofjean6973]

OA HAHA

[@carlomejia2212]

Loose the hat when insides son

[@deuna799]

I watched it on hulu my girlfriend thought it was a comedy we were severely disappointed. Not what we wanted at the moment but we kept watching thinking where's the comedy And all we got was a grenade honestly. It's a great movie lovely acting But why did hulu label it as a comedy it's to sad 🤣😅

[@AnnetteSparkle]

Lol it is a comedy. This is called farce or black comedy, black in the sense of including dark subjects but enabling us to laugh in the face of darkness.

[@troillandford7679]

I was laughing the whole way through. The movie doesn’t really take itself that seriously even though it’s very packed thematically.

[@ServandoIV]

Dolly’s performance was ok. Her character was great. The message of the film was excellent. Whatever people think, whether it is socialistic, marxist, etc,,…it is about corporate slavery, how a few rich corrupt individuals brainwash willing billions of people who allow such disparity to thrive.

[@lizpulian1734]

Only OK? If you've been able to recognize that her character was "great," isn't it because Dolly gave the character its greatness because of her own great skill in acting? My goodness! Anyone saying Dolly's acting is only "ok" doesn't really know what great acting is.

[@Shay-vj3wh]

@@lizpulian1734 precisely!!

[@senpapi4511]

Movie was mid af tbh Very low brow

[@RavenBrianne]

Harris Dickinson (my husband) and Dolly De Leon (my new hero) in one frame. 🥹