Emerald Fennell's 'Saltburn' premieres at Rome Film Festival

Emerald Fennell's second feature film 'Saltburn' premiered in the Grand Public section of the 18th Rome Film Festival. Set in 2006 at Oxford, the film follows Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan), a working-class student, and Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), an aristocratic heir, exploring themes of obsession, class disparity, and homoerotic tension. The cinematography by Linus Sandgren creates a gothic and grotesque atmosphere, referencing British heritage films like James Ivory's 'The Remains of the Day' and 'Maurice', as well as countercultural and avant-garde fashion. Notable scenes include a bathtub sequence updating Pasolini's 'Teorema' and a vampire-themed scene addressing menstruation, reminiscent of 'I Love Dick'. The soundtrack transforms formal costume parties into hallucinatory raves. The screenplay is considered the weakest element, with the film's strength lying in its atmosphere and visual style.