The entire idea behind The Square is one question: how far do people go to help others ... when their own interests are jeopardized? This question, asked through numerous vignettes in the life of a Stockholm museum curator, could be interesting to explore on film. But in one instance, boasted as the movie's signature scene, the director becomes too aggressive, and forces on the viewer a prolonged and extremely disturbing situation that is already a foregone conclusion - without offering any payoff or closure at the end (a running theme throughout the movie). While a structurally sound film, sadistic manipulation is unforgivable.
PS: This is by the Swedish director of the fantastic Force Majeure, another film that explores a baffling ethical puzzle. At the time, Östlund totally lost it after watching live on TV that his film hadn't been nominated for a Foreign Language Film Oscar (insanely documented here). The Square won the more coveted Palme d'Or at Cannes last year, but I hope Östlund is shut out of the Oscar race once again when the nominees are announced tomorrow morning - just because of pain he inflicted upon me with this one.
Update (01/23/2018): He wasn't shut out. The film was nominated.
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