Saltburn & Symbolism or: A modern day talented mr. ripley

Emerald Fennel brings to life a tantalizing treat for some but for most a grotesque and depraved knock to the senses in Saltburn. Adding to the film’s narrative and depth is an implication of unattainable bliss both psychologically and socially. It’s created effortlessly with some of the most sensational cinematography. If you’re easily unsettled then this film isn’t for you but I say: try anything once.

One quality of Saltburn that stood out to me is the well hidden pieces of symbolism that didn’t really come into focus til I sat in afterthought when the film finished. Here are a few I found:

The Minotaur:

The most obvious metaphor we are met with is the Minotaur, standing menacingly in the centre of the estate’s maze, half-human and half-monster and is the focus of Felix’s murder. In Greek Mythology the monster was damned to live in an underground warren and fed human sacrifices. Ultimately, putting an end to the inhumane acts was a young hero named Theseus who killed the monster. During this he eventually wins the crown for himself but not before manipulating the entire Royal Family. Oliver became Theseus.

The secret at the center

Icarus & Moths:

The story of Icarus had him being given wings from his father to escape prison, with warning not to fly too close to the sun or else he would suffer dire consequences. Being so enchanted in his flight Icarus forgot his father’s words and flew towards the sun where his wings burst into flames and he fell to his death. In Saltburn at Oliver’s party we see Felix dressed as Icarus, looking like a Greek god and suffering consequences of being so enchanted by Oliver. Then, near the end, Venetia talks to Oliver about moths and how he resembles them. She Realizes too late that she herself and the entire Catton family had been captivated by Oliver’s flame, like moths themselves.

Barry Keoghan as Oliver Quick

Doppelgangers:

Doppelganger comes from German, meaning “double walker”, and is considered a bad omen all around the world. During Saltburn we see the family sit down for breakfast but in the background a figure looking exactly like Felix passes by the window, in the exact same clothes he is wearing, foreshadowing his death later on in the maze. Pay close attention to the dialogue during this scene as Venetia cleverly over laps this moment with a story about Percy Bysshe Shelley who saw his doppelganger and shortly died thereafter.

Felix can be seen walking behind Venetia

Furthermore, we see Oliver facing off his reflections, his lighter self in conflict with the desire to take over Saltburn. We also see Elspeth’s death foreshadowed when eating a meal after seeing Felix dead in the maze and comes full circle when Oliver callously removes her life support. 

Another foreshadowing moment is with Venetia: Earlier in the movie Oliver submerges half his face in the water and we see this parallel with Venita when she commits an act in the bathtub. 

Saltburn is tasteful, powerful, and bold with a very detailed theme that has layers upon layers. It is one to remember for a long while, and might even be the best film of 2023 for me. What do you think?

Shauna Bushe

Shauna is a bubbly British girl who is seasoned well with all types of film. It's said she might croak if she doesn't watch at least one film a day.

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