Cannes Film Festival 2022: Triangle of Sadness, Palme of Humour

Ruben Östlund ©Patricia de Melo Moreira / AFP

Chaired by actor Vincent Lindon, the Jury of the 75th Cannes Film Festival unveiled the winners of the various prizes during the Palmarès Ceremony and awarded the Palme d’Or to Ruben Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness.

Cannes Film Festival 2022: after a glamorous Red Carpet with a line-up of international stars and muses, highlighting haute couture gowns and sumptuous jewels, the closing ceremony of the 2022 Cannes Film Festival welcomed the winners on the stage of the Grand Théâtre Lumière with Virginie Efira as Mistress of Ceremony. Broadcast live on France 2, the Palme d’Or was awarded to the Swedish director Ruben Östlund. In the Last Screening, his film Triangle of Sadness delighted the audience.

The winners ©Valery Hache / AFP

An edition of exceptional quality

The 2022 edition presented in Competition 21 films of exceptional quality, under a sometimes oppressive heat. Chaired by French actor Vincent Lindon, the Jury of the 75th Cannes Film Festival was composed of Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, British-American actress and director Rebecca Hall, French director Ladj Ly, American director Jeff Nichols, Indian actress Deepika Padukone, Swedish actress Noomi Rapace, Norwegian director Joachim Trier and Italian actress and director Jasmine Trinca.

The Jury of 75th Festival de Cannes ©YesICannes.com

Acid criticism of the ultra-rich

After the exception of Titane in 2021, driven by tortured, even monstrous, souls, the 2022 Cannes Film Festival prize-winning film once again puts the spotlight – as in previous years with Ken Loach’s films or Bong Joon-ho‘s Parasites – on humble, modest people trying to survive in the reigning capitalism, source of blatant injustices. The Palme d’Or goes to Swedish director Ruben Östlund for a brilliant and ferocious satirical comedy of the international wealthy class, where the roles of the protagonists are reversed in a stunning farce.

Triangle of Sadness ©Fredrik-Wenzel ©Plattform

Sweet madness that drives geniuses

Ruben Östlund must be mad! But of the gentle madness that drives geniuses! After creating a stir with The Square, Palme d’Or in 2017, and Turist, Prix du jury Un certain regard in 2014, the Swedish director signs a carefully paced comedy of burlesque, where, during the storm, even the objects play a role. The egos of the bourgeoisie who think they are very important are gradually flayed as the cruise becomes chaotic. Epic moment! While the toilets are overflowing, a hilarious oratory reverses the roles. With quotes from Lenin, Marx and Reagan, the American captain (Woody Harrelson) becomes a Marxist while the Russian defends capitalism. Later, on the island, a new reversal occurs: the toilet cleaning lady sets up a matriarchy with a sex slave for the men who have disdained her during her discreet existence. This is enough to overturn the modes of thought and to take the Cannes Festival audience out of its comfort zone.

The winners of the 75th Cannes Film Festival

Feature Films Palme d’or: Triangle of Sadness by Ruben Östlund. The award was presented by Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron and Vincent Lindon.

Grand Prix ex-æquo: Stars at Noon by Claire Denis and Close by Lukas Dhont. The awards were presented by Spanish actor Javier Bardem, Iranian director Asghar Farhadi and Norwegian director and screenwriter Joachim Trier, whose film Verdens Verste Menneske (Julie in 12 Chapters) earned Renate Reinsve last year’s Best Actress Award.

Director’s Award: Park Chan-wook for Heojil Kyolshim (Decision to Leave). The award was presented by Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn and British writer, director, actress and producer Rebecca Hall.

Le Otto Montagne ©DR

Screenplay Award: Tarik Saleh for Walad Min Al Janna (Boy Fron Heaven). The award was presented by Venezuelan actor Edgar Ramirez and Indian actress and producer Deepika Padukone.

Jury Prize: Eo by Jerzy Skolimowski and The Eight Mountains by Charlotte Vandermeersch & Felix Van Groeningen. The awards were presented by Italian actress and director Alice and Alba Rohrwacher and Italian actress and director Jasmine Trinca.

75th Anniversary Award: Tori and Lokita by Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne. The award was presented by the French actress Carole Bouquet and the French director Ladj Ly.

Holy Spider ©DR

Best Actress: Zar Amir Ebrahimi in Holy Spider directed by Ali Abbasi. The award was presented by French actor and director Guillaume Canet and Swedish actress Noomi Rapace.

Best Actor: Song Kang-ho in Broker directed by Kore-Eda Hirokazu. The award was presented by German actress Diane Kruger and American director and screenwriter Jeff Nichols.

The Festival is on YesICannes.com: yesicannes.com/en/category/festival-de-cannes-en