Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean) are a couple with careers in the fashion industry. Over time, Yaya becomes more successful on social media, and the pair get invited to a cruise on a yacht. They meet the other passengers, uber-rich folk who have made their fortunes in various industries and businesses. While the crew try their best to cater to the whims and fancies of their esteemed passengers, the idiosyncrasies of the eclectic group come to light around the captain’s dinner. But despite all their enormous wealth, nothing can prepare them for the mayhem about to come. Ruben Östlund’s writing and direction are unpredictable at every turn, resulting in some absurd scenarios that invoke feelings ranging from guilty fascination to disgust. Yet, this movie is impossible to look away from. Helmed by compelling performances throughout the cast, most of the narrative revolves around Carl and Yaya. Both Harris Dickinson and Charlbi Dean are refreshingly natural in their roles. Dean’s untimely demise makes one wonder how much of her talent had been untapped. Woody Harrelson is at home playing the inebriated captain who seemingly doesn’t want to be where he is. Dolly De Leon, a long-time Filipino actress, gets her moments to stand out as Abigail when some crew and passengers are left to fend for themselves on a remote island. Ruben Östlund’s unique voice shines through in this satirical drama based on the divide between the haves and the have-nots. His speciality is creating immense tension between characters and seeing how they deal with it. This discomfort by design brings an edgy vibe to scenes in unusual ways, often lingering with ideas longer than most others would. Although some of its sting may be ironically dulled by the very indulgence it seeks to admonish, ‘Triangle of Sadness’ demands introspection into what is truly valuable in today’s world.Read more