Saltburn

Summary

Oliver and Farleigh ’s karaoke scene inSaltburnis very revealing of how both characters view their roles within the Catton kinfolk ’s inner roundabout . write and directed by Emerald Fennell , Saltburnfollows Oxford educatee Oliver Quick ( Barry Keoghan ) , who is invite by his rich acquaintance Felix Catton ( Jacob Elordi ) to spend the summer at his family ’s lavish Saltburn estate . Because of his apparently low - class scope , Oliver is likely a fish out of piddle at Saltburnas he enjoy the perks of gamey society and basks in all the decadence while grow nigher to the Catton family .

Saltburnis full of memorable euphony moments , such asOliver trip the light fantastic toe to " Murder on the Dancefloor " in the final scenery ofSaltburn . However , the substance and implications of some of thesongs that bring inSaltburngo deeply than others . In one setting , Felix ’s full cousin , Farleigh Start ( Archie Madekwe ) , playfully pressures Oliver to sing karaoke , which quickly becomes uncomfortable because of Farleigh ’s song alternative for Oliver . The moment discover a peck aboutFarleigh and Oliver ’s view of their own relationships with the Cattons and how they differ from each other .

Since Saltburn ’s compelling dramatic play is primarily drive by its well - written fibre beat , one can not serve but marvel who plays whom in the movie .

Saltburn 2023 Movie Poster

Why Farleigh Makes Oliver Sing The Song “Rent” At The Cattons' Karaoke Night

The lyrics describe Oliver’s relationship with the Cattons

In the karaoke picture , the song Farleigh select for Oliver to sing is " Rent " by the Pet Shop Boys , which is written from the perspective of someone expressing gratitude to another person for give their rent and corrupt them anything they want . Because he is not familiar with the Song dynasty , Oliver does n’t catch on at first that the song ’s subject matter apply so closely to his relationship with the Cattons . As Oliver tattle lyric poem like , " You bribe me things , I love it , " it becomes clear that this Sung choice was n’t just an inauspicious coincidence .

By ca-ca him unknowingly sing these lyrics , Farleigh fundamentally tricks Oliver into recognize his disturbed dynamic with the Catton syndicate , creating ill at ease tension in the room . Everybody is momently forced to face the undeniable realness that Oliver has been freeloading by staying in their mansion rent - free and experience this lavish lifestyle on the Cattons ' dime . Farleigh deliberately chose this song to attempt to mortify Oliver and put him in his situation because he does n’t think Oliver merit to be at Saltburn .

Farleigh & Oliver’s Responses To Singing “Rent” Highlight How Different Their Relationships With The Cattons Are

Farleigh embraces the lyrics while Oliver resents them

at last , Farleigh feels so strongly about Oliver impersonate such an imposition at Saltburn because of his own financial moral force with the Cattons . Farleigh ’s female parent , Frederica , is the babe of the Catton paterfamilias , Sir James , who commence supporting Farleigh financially after he disregard off Frederica . Because Farleigh is part of theCatton family Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , he feels entitled to reap the benefit . Farleigh only views Oliver as a parasitic freeloader because he feels Oliver has n’t " garner " his right to the privilege of the Cattons ' lifestylelike Farleigh has through his transmitted connections .

Farleigh ’s unapologetic attitude about his admittance to the Cattons ' riches is evident in the karaoke scene . Oliver stops singing after the first vocalization of " I have it off you , you pay my rent , " now realize he ’s been corner into admit he ’s a freeloader . He then points out that " this is your vocal as well , Farleigh " and further him to " come complete it . " Farleigh sings with pride and enthusiasm , unashamed by how applicable the lyric are to his office as well . Farleigh ’s not mortified to own up to the fact that the Cattons are funding his whole life because he ’s family , unlike Oliver .

Farleigh is one of the most interesting grapheme in Saltburn , but the moving picture does n’t make his fate light - so here ’s what really happened .

Barry Keoghan as Oliver and Archie Madekwe as Farleigh in Saltburn.

Oliver’s Final Speech To Elspeth In Saltburn Calls Back To The Karaoke Scene’s Real Meaning

Oliver believes he worked hard to inherit the Catton family fortune

In the karaoke scene , Oliver does not appear to be amused by Farleigh indirectly calling him out for being a freeloader , seemingly because he knows it ’s honest . However , Saltburn’sendingprovides more sixth sense into the real significance behind Oliver ’s reaction in that scene . In his last spoken communication to a comatose Elspeth Catton on her deathbed , Oliver let out his master plan all along was to pass through the Catton family and inherit Saltburn by any means necessary . Thisincluded slay members of the Catton family and frame their deaths as " terrible accidents , " which Oliver claims are hold for the rich .

accord to Oliver , unconstipated people ca n’t rely on fate or luck — they have to forge to get what they want , and unlike the Cattons , he " actually knows how to work . " For Oliver , this meant scheme to get take in to Saltburn , manipulating the whole Catton family , and even kill some of them , all so he ’d end up with their luck . Oliver ’s lordly reveal proves thathe did n’t just terminate up at Saltburn by chance , nor did he just posture by while the Cattons spoiled him . He meticulously plan the whole affair and worked toward his goal , control the Cattons like marionette .

In the karaoke aspect , Farleigh ’s song choice did n’t strike a nerve because Oliver ’s humiliated that he ’s a freeloader — he ’s irritated because he does n’t consider that ’s true . Oliver took Farleigh ’s call - out in person because , unbeknownst to Farleigh or anyone else , a gross ton of cause had really gone into Oliver ending up right where he was . Farleigh inculpate that Oliver ’s done nothing to clear his keep at Saltburn or merit the Cattons ' money is contemptuous to Oliverbecause he actually has act upon heavily for it . In his own twisted way , Oliver prove Farleigh incorrect by the final stage ofSaltburn , for better or worse .

All main cast members in Saltburn

Cast

Oliver (Barry Keoghan) wearing a bowtie while singing karaoke in Saltburn.

Farleigh and Oliver in Saltburn

Oliver (Barry Keoghan) leaning over comatose Elspeth (Rosamund Pike) in her hospital bed in Saltburn.

Headshot Of Barry Keoghan In The 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party

Headshot Of Jacob Elordi

Headshot Of Rosamund Pike In The 77th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs)

Headshot Of Richard E. Grant in The UK premiere of ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It?'

Saltburn