The Square
A museum curator’s commitment to public altruism collapses into absurd moral chaos when theft, publicity, and privilege expose the gap between ideals and behavior.
Overview
A thought-provoking exploration of art and morality in modern society.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- absurd
- provocative
- arthouse film night
- discussion group viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an ambitious, daring, and frequently hilarious satire of the contemporary art world and cultural privilege, while finding it overlong and structurally indulgent.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Christian’s museum promotes altruism through The Square while its leadership and publicity strategy prioritize prestige and spectacle.
Christian’s response to the theft and its consequences exposes the gap between elite ethical rhetoric and lived responsibility.
The Square installation and the museum’s unexpected campaign drive the film’s social reactions and existential crisis.
The museum’s controlled cultural setting contrasts with the disquieting performance involving Oleg, played by Terry Notary.
Films like The Square, and why
Force Majeure
shared merciless social satire, uncomfortable moral dilemmas, and critique of privileged liberal society
The Lobster
shared surreal absurdity, class-conscious satire, and escalating social discomfort
Birdman
shared art-world setting, institutional hypocrisy, and darkly comic examination of elite culture
Movie Details
- Director
- Ruben Östlund
- Release Date
- 2017-08-25
- Runtime
- 151 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (1796)
Cast
- Claes Bang
- Elisabeth Moss
- Dominic West
- Terry Notary
- Christopher Læssø
- Lise Stephenson Engström
- Lilianne Mardon
- Marina Schiptjenko
- Annica Liljeblad
- Elijandro Edouard
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Square about?
- A museum curator’s commitment to public altruism collapses into absurd moral chaos when theft, publicity, and privilege expose the gap between ideals and behavior.
- What is The Square like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Square as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Square violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Square as mild.
- What did critics think of The Square?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an ambitious, daring, and frequently hilarious satire of the contemporary art world and cultural privilege, while finding it overlong and structurally indulgent.
- Which films are like The Square?
- Films with a similar feel include Force Majeure, The Lobster, and Birdman.
- How long is The Square?
- The Square runs 151 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Square?
- In United States, The Square streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel.
