Written & Directed By: Ruben Ostlund
Cinematography: Fredrick Wenzel
Editor: Mikel Cee Karlsson and Ruben Ostlund
Cast: Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean, Dolly De Leon, Woody Harrelson, Zlatko Buric, Iris Betban, Vicki Berlin, Henrik Dorsn
A male model and his girlfriend are caught in an amusingly weird situation while on a cruise with an assortment of around a dozen co-passengers. Things don't go smoothly at all with a raging storm making things difficult, they get shipwrecked and all now need to make compromises to survive.
This film is more thoroughly enjoyable compared to his previous film THE SQUARE though the filmmaker takes aim at the double bed class again with this film. Like FORCE MAJEURE it feels a bit more down to earth and definitely more entertaining than all his other movies up to this point. As again this film is more about the whole story. Rather than noteworthy scenes that more seem tied together.
The film begins with a couple who are both models. We see the young man in the middle of a modeling casting amongst others and being followed by a host and a camera crew. As it takes a soft jab at these castings.
We watch the young couple and their domestic problems. Where the major problems seem to be about money. As she makes more than him, she also seeks a partner who can take care of her if anything happens. Which has fed into his paranoia and birthed trust issues of always worrying she is going to meet someone better fit for her. Especially as in her career, she is surrounded by them.
That is pretty much the first act, we follow the couple through all the acts and are our anchor, but in the second act as they get aboard a yacht for a cruise the film becomes more of an ensemble. Once the second act begins it becomes about class and privilege. As we see the crew having a motivation meeting to make the most money they can.
We watch the dastardly way some of the passengers make money on shore. The ridiculous requests they make of the crew, including one woman who after telling one of the staff they are all equal. She uses micro-aggressions, to not only make the young woman swim but then demand that all the staff members swim and enjoy themselves whether they want to or not. Leaving no one to do Their actual jobs.
The vomit scene seems there to make a point and take the rich down a peg. Making them practically bathed in their own sickness and shit.
Right the scene also allows the audience to be introduced to the captain Played by Woody Harrelson whose character is a drunk and a Marxist. Unfortunately, he is only in the film briefly but adds some spice and is the only recognizable actor for the audience that reminds us this is not only a film more or less, but also a comedy.
In this act, we also see the boyfriend's jealousy. As one act dominoes into him making a complaint. Only to have the man fired while feeling guilty instead of trying to clear it up. At that moment he decides to buy a luxury item instead. As we get a feeling this is the beginning of his entry into this privileged world. Especially as he seems to network with other passengers he is at tables with and has drinks with.
Once we get to the third act. We still have the central couple plus some characters we were introduced to in the previous act. As literal survivors of the boat sinking.
This is where the film becomes not only non- Romantic but also a harsh version of the film SWEPT AWAY with more characters. As the male of the couple finally ends up becoming more the source of saving them. As his looks end up saving the day and helping them to get charity. Once one of the older female workers from the ship gets to be in charge as she is the only one who knows how to hunt, fish, and cook.
She is wildly attracted to him and trades intimacy for more rations. Showing that beauty is a powerful commodity and that power can corrupt and the lengths that people will go to. Or only to have power and influence but how hard they Will fight to keep it. No matter what the background and history.
This all leads to an ambiguous ending that feels a little more ironic and out of a writer/director M. Night Shamalayan film only not as thrilling. Nor such a big deal when it comes to revelations.
This is more a film to study and watch rather than just the latter. It’s an interesting class struggle. How freewheeling the rich are with their money and values, but never really consider the second half or how their actions affect them.
The film does offer a few shocks, but strangely never resorts to being in and taste and lets you come away with your own interpretations. Though while keeping it classy, it also feels like it never goes as far as it could.
He complains About footing the bill as he seems more to worry if this relationship is worth what he is spending his money and emotions on, seeming less romantic and more like a business deal
Act 3 should be a kind of karma made justice but as with all power structures it becomes corrupted to a degree
Most of a farce at times than anything. Especially when you have the Captain and a Russian billionaire trading Ronald Reagan and Marxist quotes while drinking shots and going through bad weather. Though there always seems to be calm no matter what. So that when Pirates enter the picture it doesn’t seem too far off.
Grade: B
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