Ruben Östlund has no trouble being “tough” with his audience. The Swedish filmmaker behind wonderfully uncomfortable films like ‘Force Majuere’ and ‘The Square’ is also having crowds squirming with his latest film, ‘Triangle of Sadness’.
Set on a luxury yacht where the 1% enjoy their privilege – until a shipwreck finds the wealthy leaning on a maid named Abigail (played by BAFTA nominee Dolly de Leon), “Triangle of Sadness” won the Palme d’Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, repeating the honor received by Östlund for “The Square” in 2017. And now the film is nominated for three Oscars, including Picture, director and the original screenplay.
The accolades come despite — or perhaps because of — her dark, satirical take on gender roles and class warfare. Then there’s that puke scene, which has got to be the longest in movie history. “I actually wrote in the script that I’m going to take 10 steps ahead of what the public expects of me,” Östlund revealed on this week’s show. Variety Awards Circuit Podcast. Listen below!
In a wide conversation, Östlund discusses the film’s ending, which has been the subject of much debate since its premiere. Fair warning that spoilers will follow when the subject is brought up, in the middle of the conversation.
Östlund also reminisces about another memorable moment from the Oscars – when he was sure ‘Force Majeure’ would be nominated in 2015 for a foreign language film. He filmed himself with producer Erik Hemmendorff reacting to the announcement – only to be snubbed. The couple uploaded the video, featuring the sounds of Östlund crying hysterically and Hemmerndorff telling her not to undress. Östlund even remembers the exact title under which it was uploaded. “The Swedish director freaks out when he misses an Oscar nomination,” he recalls with a laugh. “You call that gallows humor, don’t you?”
Dan Doperalski for Variety
Knowing the filmmaker’s style, many assumed the video was staged while others thought it was completely real. It turns out the truth is somewhere in between. THE video was actually shot in real time – but the sounds of Östlund’s moans and Hemmerndorff speaking it were added as an afterthought. “I’m like freaking out and doing the worst man scream ever,” he says. “It was a way out”
Östlund also teases a scene from his upcoming film, “The Entertainment System is Down,” which will take place on a long-haul flight and looks like another dark comedy. In the film, an airplane’s entertainment system loses power and the passengers are “modern human beings who have to deal with boredom and their own thoughts”.
Östlund plans to include a scene where a young boy asks to borrow his older brother’s iPad and is told he has to wait five minutes. “And then I want to challenge the public,” Ostlund teases. “You stay with the child in real time. And he looks in the catalog, hands it over and the commotion comes. So he asks his mother, ‘How much do we have left?’ And she said, ‘Well, now it’s been 4 minutes and 45 seconds, you need to calm down.’ »
Östlund jokes that his goal is to create the biggest walkout in Cannes history. “And I think it’s going to be more provocative than any violent, disturbing content,” he says. “Because being alone with your thoughts and challenging the audience to do the same, then it’s going to be very interesting.”
Also in this episode: We sit down with “Everything Everywhere All at Once” directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. The dynamic duo talk about the origins of their collaboration which began in film school, assembling their exceptional ensemble of actors and craftsmen and what awaits them in the film and television space. And the round table gives its predictions for the SAG Awards.
Dan Doperalski for Variety
Variety’s “Awards Circuit” podcast, produced by Michael Schneider, who also co-hosts with Clayton Davis, is your one-stop-shop for lively conversations about the best in film and TV. Each week, “Awards Circuit” features interviews with top film and TV talent and creatives; discussions and debates about awards races and industry headlines; and much more. Subscribe through Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you download podcasts. New episodes released every week.