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The Square 15 rating

From director Ruben Östlund (Force Majeure) comes a satire on the hypocrisy of the art world, starring Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss and Dominic West. Winner of the Palme d'Or.

Comedy 2017 151 mins

Director: Ruben Östlund

Overview

Double-Palmes-winner Ruben Östlund delivers a knife-sharp satire on art, culture and communication in the digital age. Starring Claes Bang (The Bridge), Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale, Mad Men) and Dominic West (The Wire), The Square won the Palme d’Or at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. Christian (Bang) is a divorced and distracted 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 is a hilarious, unique and often surreal look at idealism and cynicism in the modern world.