Triangle of Sadness; Grade: B
Triangle of Sadness tells a story about a rich couple named Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean), whom both work as models. Over the course of three parts: We shall see this relationship going through a unique journey in which changes the course of their relationship. From a dispute over a check, to joining in on a luxury cruise, to then ya know… The boat sinking, leaving the couple and some ship guests on an island.
Neon Rated has been on roll these last few years at Cannes Film Festival: Helming the last three Palme D’Or winners, as Triangle of Sadness claimed that High Honor at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Parasite was fantastic, however Titane I just wasn’t that big of a fan so there’s no guarantees given. Considering the 71% approval rating from critics from Rotten Tomatoes… There is a grand amount of curiosity, whether or not if Triangle of Sadness would live up to that highly anticipated hype. To me: This lived up to the hype, as I genuinely enjoyed this one.
Triangle of Sadness touches basis with regards to class, social roles, and power. In the first part of the film were centered into a fashion runway show, as the messaging behind the show given on the big screen is everyone is equal. When Carl and Yaya go to dinner, Carl picks up the check with no harm done right?! HOWEVER: Carl has made it a big fuss, considering Yaya claimed she would pickup the bill next time around, when that opportunity came around Yaya completely ignored the bill hoping Carl would pick it up which he did. It then leads to a massive long enduring argument.
In society we often see so much talk about equality… However, when it comes to specific things such as going out and paying, it’s mostly expected of one gender to do so over the other. How that first part was done in terms of the arguments displayed between the two was extremely engaging and thought revoking, as both sides had valid points upon their own stance. I feel so much talk is displayed about an equal balance, but unfortunately that talk is merely cheap as there is always expectations where one does more than the other or one does something the other is not expected to do so… Unless there is consistency, maybe we should all just shut up.
The power dynamic of this film is quite fascinating. When it comes to Wealth: The value of it all can really bring you far in life. You can have the finest foods, finest material possessions, you can even lure in people to be attracted to you just cause you have it… As long as there is proper structure where wealth is indeed valued, you can surely live a purely wonderful life.
However say you’re hit with a strange occurrence, where you’re stranded on an island… Is money that valuable now?! Without proper structure say a Society ran by a Basic Economy Structure: You can say money is completely worthless. If you are left with nothing, the most valuable thing at your disposal is what skills do you have?!
Power then transitions to one whom you can say had barely any “value” within the cruise, the toilet manager Abigail (Dolly De Leon). Because Abigail has skills in which she can know how to hunt for food and build a fire… She then becomes the most valuable person on the island, leaving the most wealthiest people at the hands of her feet. It’s amazing how in certain circumstances, where the balance of power can completely shift at any given circumstance, you can even saying acquiring a skillset can out shine securing income because if you’re left with nothing… Just how are you going to survive?!
What’s also fascinating is just how the power dynamic side of the film, can also pertain to how we view attractiveness as well. When it came to the structured society: Attractiveness was acquired when one finds someone good looking. You can be the most coldest, heartless, skill-less person known to man, however if one finds you good looking… One can be simply attracted to you with no questions asked. That all changed when it came to this island, as the one whom was mostly known to attract guys based around her looks, was no longer seen as the one that was seen had the most power pertaining back to Abigail. It’s amazing how attractiveness can also be dramatically shifted, if we’re in totally different circumstances at hand… How this film touches bases on those meanings is well done, while also producing a fairly done comical tone to it all.
The story of this film was rock solid to me. I felt all three parts were all well told, all had a meaningful purpose, produced engaging entertainment as well, while delivering some quality laughs as well. You can even say the story continues to build up and up as when you reach to the end… You wish it ran on a bit longer, as it just continues to be extremely engaging even with the two hours and twenty-seven minute run time.
My main flaw with this film is mostly around pacing quite honestly. I feel a good chunk of the middle I would say the pacing is where it’s noticed the most, as the sequences on the ship can drag on a bit too long here and there. You can even say if the middle is cut and structured a bit more evenly out, that we could possibly extend the story even a little further where it kind of needed it since we’re ever so interested in what’s about to happen next?!
I feel Triangle of Sadness is going to age particularly well over the course of time. It just has a lot going for: It’s a smart engaging film, centered around a great cast, while displaying some wonderfully written humor as I was able to laugh out loud multiple times in the theater.
Overall, Triangle of Sadness was a dope film. I recommend checking this one out, be considerably patient and willing to work with it, I promise you there is a lot to like about it as it gets better over the course of time. -Mitch Smietana