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The Enigma of Saltburn
The complexities of class dynamics and queer desire shine in a defining contemporary film
Saltburn (2023) manages to weave a captivating cinematic narrative, with echoes of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream intertwining with the nuanced symbolism of biblical allegory, as Satan finds his way back to Heaven. The movie sets forth a compelling plot akin to a rollercoaster ascending steadily before its rapid descent, revealing layers of depravity and Machiavellian intrigue. Barry Keoghan’s portrayal of Oliver Quick, alongside Jacob Elordi’s embodiment of Felix Catton, immerses the audience into a world where privilege and manipulation go hand in hand.
Felix, a scion of old British wealth, takes Oliver under his wing, initially as a charitable endeavor, yet with an undercurrent of condescension. The Catton family, eccentric and repressed, play a cruel game of exclusion at their sumptuous English manor in the countryside, oscillating between acceptance and rejection of those who fall into and out of their sphere. Oliver, with his tale of a troubled past, quickly becomes a pawn in their social games, his presence serving as a mirror to the Cattons’ own insecurities.
