The Square, this year’s Palme d’Or winner at the Cannes Film Festival is an amusing but over-long comedy that satirizes the art world.

Written and directed by Ruben Östlund, the film stars Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss, Dominic West, Terry Notary, and Christopher Laessø.

How far is too far to go when it comes to getting publicity?  That’s what writer/director Östlund is trying to get out of viewers watching the film.

The curator of an art museum, Christian (Bang), seems like a good guy on paper but he makes some decisions that make you question his tactics.  Following his phone and wallet being stolen by con artists, Christian and Michael (Laessø) track down the phone.  They could have thought it through but didn’t and Christian will pay the price later.

Meanwhile, the museum is working on a new campaign for “The Square,” a new exhibit.  They’ve hired a PR agency and their best idea turns into a viral video that capitalizes on one of the most vulnerable populations.  It doesn’t end well.  This doesn’t even get us started on the reception where Oleg is on the lose, straight out of a Planet of the Apes or King Kong movie.

From Magnolia Pictures, The Square is one of the Chicago International Film Festival’s Special Presentations with screenings on October 13-14.  The film will return to Chicago on November 10, 2017, for a run at the Music Box Theatre.