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Swedish production company Plattform Produktion, led by filmmaker Ruben Östlund, has joined the upcoming project “Toxic,” a satirical workplace drama directed by Jessica Hausner. The film will be showcased at the Venice Gap-Financing Market, scheduled for September 4-6. The project represents a significant pan-European collaboration, bringing together production companies from Austria, Germany, France, and Sweden, with international sales being managed by the Coproduction Office.
“Toxic” examines contemporary work culture through four distinct settings: an advertising agency, waste disposal company, nursing home, and struggling retail store. Structured as four interconnected chapters, the film uses both realistic and absurdist storytelling to explore how capitalism shapes modern employment. Hausner co-wrote the screenplay with Jessica Lind, focusing on the contradictions inherent in profit-driven systems and the complex relationship between workers and employers that perpetuates economic inequality while leaving many feeling unfulfilled.
Hausner describes the film as an exploration of self-realization in professional settings, questioning whether meaningful change is possible within systems designed around profit and success. The director emphasizes how individuals often internalize performance pressures and define their identities through employment status. This thematic approach aligns with Hausner’s previous work, including “Club Zero,” which critiqued societal manipulation and conformity through the lens of institutional influence at a boarding school.
The production arrives amid broader European discussions about work-life balance and social welfare systems. Hausner notes that rising inequality and diminishing financial returns from employment have sparked conversations about whether current economic models adequately serve society’s needs.
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Originally reported by Variety →
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