Review by Aaron Haughton

The Square is a highly ambitious and hysterical satire from the mind of Swedish writer/director Ruben Östlund (Force Majeure) that explores what happens when you try to put the concept of helping those in need into practice (amongst other things). The film made a splash at this year’s Cannes film festival, receiving the prestigious Palme d’Or, the festival's highest accolade, which it undoubtedly deserves. The film explores uncomfortable truths in equally uncomfortable fashion, and while the situations the film presents are extreme, they're ostensibly tangible.

Christian (played by Claes Bang) is the respected curator of a contemporary art museum, a divorced but devoted father of two who drives an electric car and supports good causes. His next exhibition is "The Square", an installation which invites passersby to altruism, reminding them of their role as responsible fellow human beings. However, as Christian soon realizes, sometimes it's difficult to live up to your own ideals; his 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 exhibition. The public's response to the marketing tactic is overblown and sends Christian, as well as the museum, into an existential crisis.