Since its release, Saltburn, the most recent film from director Emerald Fennell, has elicited a significant amount of controversy and discussion.
The film, which features Barry Keoghan as Oliver Quick and Jacob Elordi as Felix Catton, delves into the intricate and sinister themes of class disparity, desire, and fixation.
A startling bathtub scene that has become one of the film’s most talked-about moments is at the heart of this exploration.
This sequence, in which Oliver consumes filthy bathwater that Felix has ejaculated into, is a visceral representation of Oliver’s obsessive fixation with Felix, challenging the limitations of what viewers might anticipate on screen. The bold narrative choice of the saltburn bathtub scene has elicited a range of reactions from astonishment to intrigue among viewers.
The Bathtub Scene: The Events and Implications
Oliver, a student from a modest background, arrives at the magnificent estate of his wealthy classmate, Felix, after which the scene unfolds.
Oliver is immediately enraptured by Felix’s confident demeanour and luxurious lifestyle. Nevertheless, his fascination rapidly transforms into an intense and unsettling sensation.
The infamous bathtub scenario commences shortly after Oliver arrives at Felix’s residence. Oliver inadvertently observes Felix masturbating in the bathtub one evening. Oliver remains captivated by the sight, his attention fixated on Felix’s actions, refusing to avert his gaze.
Oliver enters the lavatory after Felix has completed his tasks and has departed. The camera observes his hesitant steps as he approaches the tub, and then, to his surprise, he lowers himself into it and commences to consume the contaminated bathwater.
Critics have engaged in a debate regarding the thematic purpose of the saltburn bathtub scene, querying whether it is merely a shock tactic or a more profound commentary on obsession.
This action is deeply disturbing for a variety of reasons. Initially, it grotesquely violates social and personal boundaries, illustrating Oliver’s complete lack of self-respect and his readiness to degrade himself in the pursuit of his obsession..
Oliver’s inclination to consume Felix, to internalize a portion of him through the most intimate and forbidden means imaginable, is also symbolized by the scene. It is not merely a moment of shock for the sake of shock; it is a meticulously crafted window into Oliver’s psyche, one that reveals his profound yearning for proximity and his distorted perception of intimacy.
Simplicity in the The beginning
Oliver’s actor, Barry Keoghan, recently disclosed the scene’s profound significance during an interview. He elaborated that the bathtub scenario is a representation of Oliver “submitting to his obsession.”
Oliver’s emotional and psychological descent is symbolised by his physical descent into the bathtub, which demonstrates his vulnerability and desperation.
In addition, Keoghan indicated that the scene was comparable to a sacrificial ritual. Oliver believes that this degrading act is a demonstration of his devotion, a way of demonstrating his willingness to do anything for Felix.
The scene is further complicated by this interpretation, which implies that Oliver’s actions are not solely motivated by desire but also by a desperate need for validation and belonging. In order to demonstrate his devotion and affection for Felix, he is willing to subject himself to humiliation.
Upon approaching such a challenging character, Keoghan underscored the significance of empathy from an actor’s perspective. In order to effectively portray Oliver, he observed that it was necessary to refrain from evaluating the character’s actions. As an alternative, he was required to comprehend Oliver’s motivations and the intense emotions that were propelling him.
This method enables Keoghan to imbue his performance with depth and nuance, rendering Oliver’s disquieting actions not only plausible but also inevitable in light of his own psychological state.
Shock Value Evaluate in Saltburn
While Saltburn has received generally favourable reviews for its innovative storytelling and compelling performances, certain critics have expressed concern regarding its dependence on shock value. The saltburn bathtub scene has been the subject of extensive discussions, parodies, and analyses on social media platforms, predominantly due to its contentious nature. In the minds of numerous viewers, the saltburn bathtub scene represents a critical juncture in the film, during which boundaries are breached in both literal and metaphorical senses.
Oliver’s naked performance around the estate and a disturbing grave scene are among the numerous graphic and provocative scenes in the film. These scenes have prompted some to contend that the film is more concerned with provocation than with profound storytelling.
However, the film’s advocates contend that these disturbing scenes are essential to its narrative and themes. An comprehension of Oliver’s character and his spiralling obsession with Felix is particularly dependent on the bathtub scene.
Oliver’s interior turmoil and his pursuit of a connection with Felix that transcends conventional boundaries are powerfully conveyed in this moment, which is not gratuitous.
Furthermore, the film employs these shocking instances to delve into more profound themes concerning privilege and class. Oliver’s crush on Felix is not solely motivated by physical attraction or admiration; it is also influenced by the allure of wealth and prestige.
Oliver, who hails from a humble background, is captivated by the extravagant lifestyle of Felix. He may be perceived as making an exaggerated effort to reconcile the disparity between his own social status and Felix’s privileged status.
Oliver’s aspiration to completely integrate himself into Felix’s world, to absorb every facet of the life he aspires to, is symbolised by the bathtub scene.
A Closer Look at Saltburn’s Class and Obsession Themes
In addition to being a film about passion and desire, Saltburn also criticises class relations and the extremes people would go to in order to move up the social scale. Oliver and Felix’s relationship is characterised from the outset by an uneven power dynamic.
Oliver so much wishes he to be a part of Felix’s world, which he represents with his money and self-assurance. Oliver acts in an increasingly unpredictable and self-destructive manner as a result of this need.
The movie makes the argument that Oliver’s fixation on Felix is motivated by a combination of deep-seated hatred and fascination with Felix’s advantages, in addition to personal desire.
A complex mixture of adoration, envy, and a desire for vengeance against a system that has denied Oliver the opportunities Felix takes for granted motivates Oliver’s activities.
In this particular setting, the bathtub scene might be interpreted as both a defiance of and an acquiescence to the inflexible class systems that put them apart.
The Significance of Taboo and Intimacy in Saltburn
The examination of intimacy and taboo in Saltburn is among its most remarkable features. Attraction and repulsion, as well as desire and aversion, are frequently blurred in the movie.
This is most shown in the bathtub scene, as Oliver’s act of consuming the bathwater is both a very personal and horrific transgression of limits. This scene perfectly captures the movie’s investigation of the darker aspects of desire and the ways in which obsession may result in self-destruction.
In addition, the movie delves deeper into the idea of taboo in numerous ways, especially in the way it depicts power dynamics and sexual relationships. For instance, in a later scene of the movie, Felix’s sister Venetia Catton and Oliver have a sexual encounter during her menstrual cycle.
Similar to the bathtub scene, this sequence pushes viewers’ comfort zones and makes them face the unsettling truths of obsession and desire.
The Heated Finding and Its Importance
Both viewers and commentators have taken issue with Saltburn’s conclusion. In the closing minutes of the movie, it becomes clear that Oliver might have been to blame for a string of unfortunate occurrences that have befallen the Catton family, including Felix’s demise.
This turn of events begs the issue of what Oliver’s genuine motivations were, if he was acting out of obsession alone or if there was a more deliberate scheme in motion.
A few viewers have deduced from the conclusion that Oliver’s fixation with Felix was not as pure as it first appeared. Rather, it might be interpreted as a component of a bigger plan to gain favour with the Catton family and eventually exploit their resources and prestige.
The bathtub scene takes on a darker meaning after reading this, since it seems that Oliver’s actions were motivated by more than simply his obsession with Felix—they were also an attempt to infiltrate and take advantage of the Catton family.
But a lot of the movie allows room for interpretation, so audiences are free to come to their own conclusions about Oliver’s motivations and the nature of his addiction. Was there anything more than just a deep-seated anger and ambition driving Oliver’s spiral into lunacy and depravity? The film’s ending, which leaves room for interpretation, makes the story more intricate and captivating by making spectators consider these issues.
Final Thought
The movie Saltburn pushes limits and forces audiences to face hard facts about passion, desire, and class. Despite being horrifying, the bathtub scene is an important sequence that captures the ideas of the movie and the nuanced nature of the people.
The scenario is transformed into a dramatic examination of the lengths people would go to in order to achieve an impossible ideal thanks to Barry Keoghan’s subtle performance and Emerald Fennell’s audacious direction.
Some of the contentious scenes in the movie, such as the one in the bathtub, are meant to emphasise how destructive obsessions can be and how desire can ultimately result in disaster. Not only is the content of the saltburn bathtub scene noteworthy, but it also raises questions about the audience’s comfort level with intimacy and voyeurism in movies.
