Either I’m too uneducated in contemporary western politics to understand the nuances of this not absurdist enough satire or it’s a stylish mess. 

It reminded me of Triangle of Sadness in its opening scenes. The G7 conference where the heads of state of seven powers (USA, UK, Japan, Canada, Italy, France and Germany) meet to find accord and issue statements (and have their photos taken and eat fancy food in grand surroundings) starts with a whimper. Jostling for importance and trying to hide old hurts and indiscretions, the seven sit around a dining table in an outside folly to try and draft a statement. They are equal parts egomaniacs and ineffective public servants and totally unprepared for what seems like the apocalypse. 

It feels like there is a subtext. Each of the heads of state is somewhat of a stereotype of their nationality. Cate Blanchett a bit Angela Merkel crossed with Princess Diana as the German chancellor Hilda Orlmann, the French Prime Minister (Denis Ménochet) drinks a lot of wine, the Italian Prime Minister (Rolando Ravello) steals salami from the buffet tablt, The US President (Charles Dance) is an ageing statesman, full of bluff and talk of America being the oldest democracy. Perhaps not surprisingly the Canadian Prime Minister (Roy Dupuis) is the quintessential millennium man – in touch with his emotions but also good in a crisis. And sexy.

It descends into a mix of farce and fantasy, there is a giant brain, a ferry man in the mist, and bogmen masquerading as political protestors. It felt like a male director and writer, from the masturbating bogmen to the characterisation of the two female heads of state as slightly horny boss bitches.

It felt like it could’ve been more absurd, a bit crazier and it might’ve been a fun ride but it somehow falls flat. Maybe I just didn’t understand it’s greatness.