WITHOUT FILTER by Ruben Östlund: film review

The derisionthis is the key word that dictates the steps of Without Filter, a poignant and acerbic rant in which Östlund delights in dynamiting human relationships governed by an increasingly ferocious class struggle in an increasingly coarse world. A head-to-toe model, an influencer obsessed with her image, a Russian oligarch brandishing his money against all odds, rich people who think they have all the rights, a communist captain, a submissive crew, cowards, exploiters and exploited… This is what makes up the craft that Östlund will blow up, overturning power dynamics with the most scathing irony. And as much to say that the result is diabolically successful, at the same time wickedly funny (in the first but especially in the second degree), deliciously cynical and very intelligently felt. Ideas flow, Östlund hits everyone with constant relevance. Decadent liberalism, the rich above ground imposing their alleged power and ready to do anything to preserve their privileges, the lower class who dream of freeing themselves from this established social hierarchy, the world of appearances, artificiality, the cynicism of some and the jealousy of others… Without Filter is a joyful mess that intends to swing truths. Small downside, these truths are still well known and Östlund pushes half-open doors a little. They would thus have deserved to be attacked in a more nasty way (we are sold “without filter” but all that remains a little nice on the edges). The whole is probably a bit long, the demonstration marked by misanthropy not very subtle in the end, but the vitriolic satire is still quite enjoyable at times and overall, we have a lot of fun with this bourgeois cruise.



By Nicolas Rieux