The Square(2017)

R
2h 31m
- Comedy
- Drama

Release Date: Oct 27, 2017 | Limited

A prestigious Stockholm museum's chief art curator finds himself in times of both professional and personal crisis as he attempts to set up a controversial new exhibit.

Releases

Original Release | Oct 27, 2017

Watch Trailer

Box Office

Results

Opening Weekend US & Canada:
$74,233
Total US & Canada:
$1,502,347
Total International
$7,977,813
Total Worldwide:
$9,480,160

Director & Top Cast

Ruben Östlund
Director

Dominic West
Julian

Technical Specifications

Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

Aspect Ratio: 1.85 : 1

Other Details

Country of Origin: Sweden

Summaries

Storyline

Christian 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 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. Successful, self-confident, and charming in his impeccable suits, Christian, the reputable chief curator for Stockholm's contemporary art X-Royal Museum, knows how to enjoy the good life. However, after falling victim to an intricate pick-pocketing scam, Christian's whole existence will go into meltdown, as he decides to follow a rather unorthodox way to recover his stolen property. And, mistake after mistake, the desperate art connoisseur is doomed to do the exact opposite of what The Square represents--his latest cutting-edge project--to remedy this unfortunate situation; but, at what cost? Under those circumstances, is the Square nothing more than a hideous simulation of a rapidly deteriorating social reality? — Nick Riganas In control of everything of which he is in charge making him generally calculating, Christian Nielsen is the chief curator at X-Royal, a modern and contemporary art museum in Stockholm, it housed in one part of the former royal palace. Confidence, which he outwardly possesses in spades, is required to woo potential investors, he up front in an interview that the museum does not have the capital of many of the world's private collectors in bidding for and purchasing the top art. With the current exhibits, like the video series by performance artist Oleg Rogozjin highlighting beasts' relationship to mankind, or the featured exhibit titled "Mirrors and Piles of Gravel" by Julian Gijoni generating little foot traffic, he is placing much effort into an upcoming exhibit by Lola Arias, the collection which she has titled "The Square", which is meant to symbolize equality and thus a place of safety but obligation for anyone in the space. The museum has commissioned a marketing company to come up with a strategy to promote the exhibit. Christian's controlled world has the potential to go horribly off the rails as he tries to juggle many balls, he placing priority on certain of those balls over others. They include: approving the marketing concept for the exhibit, the PR firm trying to come up with something provocative as the artist's statement on the piece is too motherhood in nature to wrap a media strategy around; dealing with the aftermath of what he assumed was a one-night stand with someone he met in a professional context; keeping to his child care responsibilities to his two daughters, Lise and Lilli; and with the help of one of his assistants Michael, trying, somewhat covertly, to get back his wallet, cell phone and cuff-links, which he realized after the fact were stolen in a con and not just merely lost. Added to the problems is one of his artists having a mind of his own at a black tie banquet for the museum. — Huggo