X
- 2017
- R
- Magnolia Pictures
- 2 h 31 m
- 2017
- R
- Magnolia Pictures
- 2 h 31 m
Summary Christian is the respected curator of a contemporary art museum, a divorced but devoted father of two who drives an electric car and supports good causes. His next show is The Square, an installation which invites passersby to altruism, reminding them of their role as responsible fellow human beings. But sometimes, it is difficult to liv...
Directed By: Ruben Östlund
Written By: Ruben Östlund
- 2017
- R
- Magnolia Pictures
- 2 h 31 m
- 2017
- R
- Magnolia Pictures
- 2 h 31 m
The Square
73
7.1
Where to Watch
Summary Christian is the respected curator of a contemporary art museum, a divorced but devoted father of two who drives an electric car and supports good causes. His next show is The Square, an installation which invites passersby to altruism, reminding them of their role as responsible fellow human beings. But sometimes, it is difficult to liv...
Directed By: Ruben Östlund
Written By: Ruben Östlund
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 33 Critic Reviews
73
76% Positive
25 Reviews
25 Reviews
21% Mixed
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
3% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 33 Critic Reviews
73
76% Positive
25 Reviews
25 Reviews
21% Mixed
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
3% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Navigating the nexus of hype, commerce, ego, and bullshit that drives the modern art scene, The Square is almost too perfect in its cunning simplicity. The art world’s always been easy to drag, what with its interiority, weirdos, and frustrating games of pin-the-tail-on-the-thesis. But rarely are these ideas lampooned so beautifully.
The Square means to send you out of the theater arguing, and its success on that front should not eclipse its more lasting, unsettling achievement. It affirms that art, this movie very much included, can tell us things about ourselves that we’d prefer not to know.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 116 User Ratings
7.1
70% Positive
81 Ratings
81 Ratings
21% Mixed
24 Ratings
24 Ratings
9% Negative
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 116 User Ratings
7.1
70% Positive
81 Ratings
81 Ratings
21% Mixed
24 Ratings
24 Ratings
9% Negative
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
It manages to at once skewer the art world while simultaneously wholly embracing it. I saw this Palme d'Or winner in a small art house theater, and at times the entire crowd was raucously **** other times (the unforgettable ape/ man performance piece) frozen in rapt heart pounding attention. Hilarious, harsh, unflinching...must see movie of 2017.
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The less solemn -and friendly- side of museums, in a story that does not touch the heart to make social criticism based on caustic humor. The treatment may not be to everyone's taste, but it was not recognized for nothing.
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Burying self-referential allusions in the background and merrily poking viewers till they bruise, The Square at times feels more like longform performance art than a narrative film. It’s social satire by way of art-world comedy, and no woke participant is exempt from its barbs.
As overindulgent as it is, The Square is a darkly humorous and horrific mirror to our culture.
The best reason to see The Square is the remarkable Terry Notary, last seen in “War for the Planet of the Apes.” Here he plays a performance artist named Oleg, who brings simian havoc, way beyond his brief, to a glamorous event, roaring and thumping among the tuxedos and the gowns. If only he had done the same at Cannes.
There is much to enjoy here - especially at the beginning - and Östlund's ambition and vision are to be applauded. However, The Square would have been greatly improved had the director taken his scalpel and his demanding critical eye and applied it to the film itself.
This is not a terribly plot-driven movie; indeed, at two hours and twenty minutes it’s rather a ramble.
If you appreciate the contemporary art world, you'll probably find this film an interesting look into that culture. Claes Bang plays the curator at a big Stockholm museum who's preparing for a new exhibit, but the story delves into other aspects of his life. To say much more would be to spoil one of this film's best aspects…surprise! There are numerous times when something unexpected happens, taking the narrative in a new direction (not really plot twists but interesting detours). The people are interesting and the situations are sometimes fascinating. Writer/director Ruben Östlund (Force Majeure) continues to create work that crosses between drama and satire, while crafting personal stories that present varied and engaging characters. (In Swedish with subtitles)
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The Square ist ein Viereck, welches ein Kunstwerk ist. Innerhalb des Vierecks gibt es keine Vorurteile und man darf sagen, was man will. So vermarktet es der Leiter des Museums in Stockholm, Christian. Als ihm seine Geldbörse und sein Handy gestohlen wurde, lernt er innerhalb des Films die negativen Seiten des Lebens und er hinterfragt sein Gesellschaftsbild.
The Square ist eine Dramödie, welche nicht allen gefällt. Der Film ist sehr kompliziert und man muss sich stark konzentrieren, um die Handlung zu verstehen. The Square geht definitiv viel zu lange und die Spannung wird nicht gut genug gehalten. Es gibt ein paar spannende Momente: Als Christian die Drohbriefe einwirft, Der Junge, welcher eine Entschuldigung möchte und der Affenmann. Der Film folgt keiner geraden Linie und springt von Ereignis zu Ereignis. Die Kameraführung ist etwas besonders, da wenn es Gespräch gibt, nicht immer zwischen den Gesprächspartner geschnitten wird. Das führt dazu, dass man sich als Zuschauer fragt, wie das Gesicht der Stimme auszieht. Es gibt viele Kameraeinstellungen, wo gar nicht geschnitten wird. Der Film befasst sich mit dem Thema Meinungsfreiheit, wie weit Kunst gehen kann und Vorurteile. Für einige kann der Film sich langweilig anfühlen und für andere interessant und fesselnd. Für mich persönlich ist es eher die Langeweile, obwohl es auch spannende und interessante Momente gab. The Square ist so ein Film, den man sich mehrmals ansehen muss, um ihn genau zu verstehen. Es kann sein das beim zweiten Gucken mir der Film besser gefällt. Die schauspielerische Leistung kann ich gar nicht kritisieren, da die Schauspieler alle gut ausgewählt wurden und überzeugend spielen.
6,5/10
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"The Square" is a 142-minute film that follows Swedish art curator Christian, played by Claes Bang, after his phone is stolen. This sets off a chain of events that threatens to unravel his self-absorbed world. The film also stars Elisabeth Moss and Dominic West and is directed by Ruben Östlund. It is a savage satire that explores the art world and is both hilarious and thought-provoking. The film challenges viewers' assumptions and is similar to the film "Kynodontas" in its ability to make the audience question their understanding of the rules. It appears innocent on the surface but delves into chaos and farce, expertly puncturing the bubble of the art world and leaving a lasting impression on viewers.
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"The Square" es una película de 142 minutos que sigue al curador de arte sueco Christian, interpretado por Claes Bang, después de que le roben el teléfono. Esto desencadena una cadena de eventos que amenaza con desentrañar su mundo ensimismado. La película también está protagonizada por Elisabeth Moss y Dominic West y está dirigida por Ruben Östlund. Es una sátira salvaje que explora el mundo del arte y es a la vez hilarante y estimulante. La película desafía las suposiciones de los espectadores y es similar a la película "Kynodontas" en su capacidad para hacer que la audiencia cuestione su comprensión de las reglas. Parece inocente en la superficie, pero se adentra en el caos y la farsa, perforando hábilmente la burbuja del mundo del arte y dejando una impresión duradera en los espectadores.
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A very pretentious film that's supposedly skewering pretension wins the most pretentious award of all, the Palme d'Or. That just about says it all. It isn't even funny, is far too long, and except for a tinge of humanity in the main character, is all stereotype. This is what we've come to. The Emperor's still naked, prancing around in this movie, not to mention the art world. I was so hoping for something that doesn't exemplify what it's satirizing. This is not that movie. Can't we just come right out and say it?
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Production Company
Plattform Produktion,
Film i Väst,
Essential Filmproduktion GmbH,
Parisienne,
Coproduction Office,
Sveriges Television (SVT),
Imperative Entertainment,
Arte France Cinéma,
ZDF/Arte,
Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI),
Eurimages,
Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg,
Nordisk Film & TV-Fond,
Det Danske Filminstitut,
Alamode Film,
TriArt Film,
Danmarks Radio (DR)
Release Date Oct 27, 2017
Duration 2 h 31 m
Rating R
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Nomination
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Nomination
European Film Awards
• 6 Wins & 6 Nominations
