Ruben Östlund's 'The Square' Satirizes Contemporary Art World at Cannes
Swedish director Ruben Östlund, born in 1974 and co-founder of Plattform Produktion, presented his new film 'The Square' at the Cannes Film Festival. The story centers on Christian, a successful curator at a modern art museum, played by Claes Bang. The plot unfolds around the opening of a major exhibition also titled 'The Square,' where the curator faces a series of unexpected mishaps and moral dilemmas, including issues with the communication agency handling the campaign. The film offers a satirical critique of the contemporary art sector, featuring references such as Dominic West as Julian, an artist who leaves home in pajamas, evoking Julian Schnabel. It also mocks performance art, reminiscent of Paolo Sorrentino's 'La Grande Bellezza.'
Key facts
- Ruben Östlund is a Swedish director born in 1974.
- He co-founded the production company Plattform Produktion.
- His previous films include 'Involuntary' and 'Play'.
- 'The Square' was presented at the Cannes Film Festival.
- The film stars Claes Bang as Christian, a curator.
- Dominic West plays Julian, an artist who wears pajamas outside.
- The film satirizes the contemporary art world.
- It includes references to performance art and Julian Schnabel.
Entities
Artists
- Ruben Östlund
- Claes Bang
- Dominic West
- Julian Schnabel
- Paolo Sorrentino
Institutions
- Plattform Produktion
- Artribune
Locations
- Cannes
- France
- Göteborg
- Sweden