The Square

Force Majeure director Ruben Östlund returns with a knife-sharp satire on art, culture and communication in the digital age. Christian (Claes Bang) is a divorced but devoted father of two, and the respected curator of a contemporary art museum in Stockholm. He's gearing up to launch their next show, 'The Square', a daring installation examining altruism and our duty to help others. However, Christian's own views on social responsibility are put to the test when he becomes the victim of a scam, forcing him to question the world around him and his place in it. Meanwhile, a shocking viral stunt cooked up by the museum's PR agency is met with public outcry, sending Christian—and the museum—into an existential crisis. 

With pitch-perfect performances, inventive set pieces and a cutting deadpan wit, The Square, winner of the Palme d’Or at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, is a hilarious, unique and often surreal look at idealism and cynicism in the modern world.

The Square, dir. Ruben Östlund, Sweden 2017, 145 mins