By: Miguel Ernesto Yusty

THE TRIANGLE OF SADNESS is a film directed by Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund, winner of some of the most prestigious awards on the international film festival circuit. Released in 2022, THE TRIANGLE OF SADNESS is a contender for the Academy Awards for Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Original Screenplay. It is a comedy that initially appears to be a reflection on politics and economics, but it transcends the academic realm and delves into an analysis of human nature and its capacity to survive at any cost.

In concrete terms, the triangle of sadness is the shape that appears on certain faces when their brows furrow. It's up to the viewer to interpret how this facial feature represents the film's underlying message. Where there's no room for interpretation, however, is in asserting that in cinema, all concepts and ideas must be translated into images and sounds, and in this, this film passes the test with flying colors. Ruben Östlund, who also wrote the screenplay, finds the precise actions to illustrate the misery of wealth and the cruelty of poverty. Ruben demonstrates that above any value, even love, obtaining food and the need for shelter from life's harsh conditions are always paramount.

Bleak and realistic, THE TRIANGLE OF SADNESS argues, mercilessly, that even amidst the most sophisticated opulence, human beings are prone to selfishness. The cinematic language, the camerawork, the sound, the music, the art direction—everything in this film is compelling. Thus, Ruben Östlund knows how to convey the depth of his cruel premise to all kinds of viewers, and that is his greatest strength as a director.