O Quadrado

Um espelho extraordinário da sociedade contemporânea da Europa Ocidental, com a sua hipocrisia e, ao mesmo tempo, o seu esforço para a máxima correção. Muitas cenas excelentes, originais e adequadas que deixam o espetador sem fôlego, mas também muitas cenas que estendem desnecessariamente o filme a um tempo excessivo. Talvez fosse essa a intenção de Östlund («Este objeto tornar-se-á arte se o colocarmos num espaço dum museu?»), mas se assim fosse, ele não precisava de abrandar o filme, deveria ter-lhe acrescentado apenas sugerindo um segundo plano. Menos teria sido mais. De qualquer modo, um irmão equivalente de Happy End de Haneke, que aborda o tema semelhante. (05/02/2018)

Ruben Östlund is probably the most interesting director and screenwriter of contemporary Scandinavia. Twice I rated his films with the full five stars, for his impersonal but brilliantly told stories. Here, however, I will be a bit critical – but really just a bit. The Square has a rather complex premise, and you have to think hard to understand what its creator is getting at. It features a number of inventive and original scenes, but its unnecessary long running time is to its disadvantage. The fact that the metaphorical square is supposed to be the contemporary Europe is still boggling my mind. In my opinion a rather interesting insight into the high Scandinavian society of today. (17/02/2020)

A film brimming with meanings and food for thought - from the comic character of a liberal and an egoist, a satirical image of institutionalized art, to a broad metaphor of a society torn between selfishness and altruism. However, Östlund's strength is also his weakness. Unlike the comprehensive concept of Play the and the concentrated relationship study of Force Majeure, in The Square, the Swede wanders, looks for the exact timing of scenes and a disturbing moment when, due to their duration, meaning breaks. It has some great moments, but as a 142-minute film, it works more like a band for controversy and reflection. So: an important topic that is looking for the optimal film shape. For the Palme d'Or? An interesting, not entirely conventional choice. I appreciate the match I had with this. But I rank the previous two Ruben films higher. (29/05/2017)

An interesting film, a sharp criticism of modern Swedish society – we could even say Europe, actually – and even though it is about Art, which I don't really seek out, I surprisingly enjoyed myself and the film caught my attention. The film has some interesting ideas, memorable scenes – strange sex with Elisabeth Moss, threatening letters being thrown into mailboxes in an apartment building, and of course the crazy psycho scene where Terry Notary converts a monkey at a company party, which makes it stand out even at an above average rating). Story****, Action>No, Humor**, Violence>No, Entertainment****, Music***, Visuals****, Atmosphere****, Suspense***. 7/10. (15/09/2020)

Considering how highly this film is rated, I don't think I belong to its target audience. After all, I'm no intellectual who can see an art installation in a pile of construction material. Modern art is completely beyond me, so the long debates on the subject put me to sleep, and the shots without any plot (and there were quite a few) didn’t help much either. To make matters worse, the film suffers from political correctness. One star for the controversial clip, Oleg's primate and the hard-working cleaner. (23/06/2018)

This is a film about how easy it is to lose something and try to find it again. But above all, it is a film about what art is, how far it reaches, and what we can perceive as art. There are quite a few good questions asked here, either actually or metaphorically, that are definitely worth pondering. Art and madness are interchangeable. (21/03/2018)