The Square

(spoiler free)

After his critically acclaimed film back in 2014, ‘Force Majeure’, Swedish director Ruben Östlund returns to the big screen with his latest project, ‘The Square’. It’s a satirical drama regarding art, communication and publicity. It earned a Best Foreign Language Film nomination at this years Oscars but ultimately lost out on a win to ‘A Fantastic Woman’. However on it’s debut it was awarded with the Palme d’Or at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.

The narrative doesn’t have any clear drive, instead it is made up of a collection of smaller interactions and the fall out from these. These include the publicity of a new exhibition at the museum where much of the film is based, the mission of one character to reclaim his stolen goods after he’s the victim of pickpockets and the same characters sexual relationship with an American journalist. Whilst the stories don’t feel overly connected they all feature the museum’s curator, Christian. All of these plot points are uniquely interesting. They encourage thought provoking discussion on art and the tactics used to manipulate audiences. It’s amusing though as one scene in particular, that depicted on the poster, features an unmistakably awkward and tense artistic demonstration which uses the very tactics (stirring up controversy) which are under scrutiny by the director used by his characters here. However, this is most likely just further satire of the issue but it’s worth wondering how much of the social criticism is actually in play for the film itself.

Nonetheless, I have to admit that several elements to the film went straight over my head. In this way it feels like an accurate portrayal of the art world but this leaves it wide open for interpretation. Much of the social commentary in place holds with it a good level of comedy, it’s never laugh out loud hilirious but it’s funny in understated ways. The performances of all involved are good, often contributing to this humour, with Claes Bang, who plays Christian excelling. He often mirrors the feelings of the audience, whether that be disdain, frustration or disbelief. Furthermore, even despite the lack of an overarching narrative ‘The Square’ does well to maintain the attention of it’s viewers over it’s rather extortionate running time, potentially further satire of a pretentious and self-obsessed artistic climate? 

Ultimately ‘The Square’ is a fascinating critique of the modern art culture, at times making it difficult to see where it’s satire stops and it’s own artistry begins. It’s great fun trying to work out what exactly is being communicated from scene to scene with some moments being jarringly obvious and others requiring deeper thought. There’s no doubt it’s lengthy running time and seemingly unfocused narrative will be a challenge for some audiences but it definitely succeeds in satirising it’s chosen subject in an entertaining fashion.

Written by Hamish Calvert

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Rating – 7/10

Question: What’s your favourite satirical film?
(Leave your answers in the comments section below!)

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Thanks to Queens Film Theatre for screening access