“It's laugh-out-loud funny and occasionally just plain silly. But it asks a serious question that seems more urgent with every passing day: "How much inhumanity does it take before we access your humanity?” – Peter Howell, Toronto Star
“An examination of social context, elitism, cultural bubbles and more, The Square is - to put it precisely - absolutely bonkers. But purposefully bonkers.” – Tom Long, Detroit News
Swedish provocateur Ruben Östlund, the director of Force Majeure, returns with The Square, one of his most audacious pieces to date and winner of the prestigious Palme d’Or at Cannes. A spot-on, no-holds-barred satire of the more vapid foibles of the postmodern art world, the film follows Christian (Claes Bang), the imperious, self-centred, and hopelessly befuddled curator of Sweden’s most cutting-edge art museum.
He’s a divorced but devoted father of two who drives an electric car and supports good causes. His next show is "The Square", an installation which invites passersby to altruism, reminding them of their role as responsible fellow human beings. But sometimes, it is difficult to live up to your own ideals: Christian's foolish response to the theft of his phone drags him into shameful situations. Meanwhile, the museum's PR agency has created an unexpected campaign for "The Square". The response is overblown and sends Christian, as well as the museum, into an existential crisis.
25 Awards, 37 Nominations:
Winner, Palme d’Or, Cannes Film Festival, 2017
Winner, Best European Comedy, Film, Director, Actor, Screenwriter, Production Designer, European Film Awards, 2017
Winner, Best European Film, Goya Awards, 2018
Winner, Best Foreign Film, Guild of German Art House Cinemas, 2017
Winner, Best Foreign Language Film, Toronto Film Critics Association Awards, 2017
Winner, Best Non English Language Film, Alliance of Women Film Journalists, 2018
Winner, Best Foreign Language Film, Boston Society of Film Critics Awards, 2017
Nominated, Best Foreign Language Film, Academy Awards, USA, 2018
Nominated, Best Foreign Language Film, Golden Globes, USA, 2018
This program is sponsored by Busch Systems, Netgain, The Peggy Hill Team - Keller Williams Broker, Pilatez.ca, Restorations by Rodgers/Renovations by Rodgers, Storage Mart, Venable Park Investment Council Inc.