Spoiler alert: the clip above is from the ending of the “Triangle of Sadness” plot
Set in part aboard a luxury yacht, Ruben Östlund’s Palme d’Or-winning comedy “Triangle of Sadness” is a strong satire of privilege among high society. But it’s a satire in which the most memorable character is a middle-aged “bathroom manager” named Abigail, played by Filipina actress Dolly De Leon, who is seen alongside Harris Dickinson in the exclusive clip above.
Not well known outside of her native Philippines prior to the film’s Cannes premiere, De Leon has received high praise from critics and audiences alike for her cunning and unpredictable performance as Abagail. So far, she has won a Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award and has been nominated for a Golden Globe and a London Critics Circle Film Award for Best Supporting Actress.
The scene above takes place not on a yacht but on a lifeboat, as Abigail has become the leader of a group of castaways on a deserted island. Her ability to catch food and make fire out of it has elevated her to the highest social status, above her fellow shipwreck survivors, including oligarchs and fashion models.
And one of those role models, Carl (played by Dickinson), has become something of a concubine for Abigail. “You give me something and I give you something in return,” she tells him in this scene.
De Leon recently spoke to TheWrap about the impact of this moment in the film, in which an unconventional sexual relationship is portrayed with a degree of reality and consequence. Although he prefers raucous comedy, especially during the yacht scenes, Östlund (“Force Majeure” and “The Square”) shifts to a more serious tone in this third act of the film, especially in terms of the reversed gender imbalance.
“Yes, it is an older woman and a younger man,” De León said. “People could easily think it was some kind of joke or find it uncomfortable or gross, so it was important for the audience to believe that Carl is the type of man who is drawn to power. It’s power, more than anything else, that turns him on. And he wanted to add an element of sensuality to the power that Abigail wields, so that it makes more sense in the story. Carl sticks with her as a survival tactic, but he also finds her “power of hers” sexy.
In the scene above, Abigail and Carl discuss their relationship dynamics, and whether he should split up with his fellow model girlfriend (played in the film by Charlbi Dean, who died after a sudden illness last August). For director Östlund’s explanation of the question mark at the end of the film, click here.
“Triangle of Sadness” (the title comes from the wrinkles that form a triangle between the eyebrows) is playing in theaters and available to rent via streaming platforms.