The Square
Directed by Ruben Östlund
- drama
The story
A prestigious Stockholm museum's chief art curator finds himself in times of both professional and personal crisis as he attempts to set up a controversial new exhibit.
What it’s like
Clean Scandinavian daylight and white gallery walls, shot in long static takes that hold each awkward pause until it curdles into comedy. Symmetrical, deliberately flat compositions keep the camera a step back from people squirming through dinners, boardrooms and street encounters, and the soundtrack is sparse and synthetic, leaving stretches of hallway hum and room tone. The vibe is deadpan, sardonic and chilly, with a wincing amusement. It suits a weeknight when you want something sharp and unsettling rather than cosy, or a conversation starter for friends who enjoy dry, uncomfortable humour. The pacing is slow and episodic, following a polished, self-satisfied man as his image of his own decency gradually cracks. Intensity is mostly humiliation and social cringe rather than gore: there is one brief, shocking scuffle, a frank and uncomfortable sexual scene, and several prolonged stretches of embarrassment that land hard. Not gentle. Made for viewers who like the deadpan tableaux of Roy Andersson and the clinical absurdity of Lanthimos, and who don't mind being made to squirm.
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