CIFF23: Writer/Director Emerald Fennell Applies the ‘Saltburn’

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CHICAGO – Writer, Director and Actor Emerald Fennell is leading a new revolution of commentary in her feature films. She began with “Promising Young Woman” in 2020 – for which she won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay – and her follow-up is “Saltburn,” which screened at the 59th Chicago International Film Festival on October 19th.

Emerald Fennell for ‘Saltburn’ at the 59th CIFF
Photo credit: Joe Arce for HollywoodChicago.com

Scholarship student Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) struggles to find his place as a new student at Oxford. On a chance meeting, he befriends Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), the most popular, charming, and handsome student in school. When Oliver tells Felix that he has no home to return to for the summer, Felix invites him to his aristocratic family’s country estate, Saltburn. As an outsider drawn into the shimmering world of the eccentric Cattons and their life of excess, Oliver begins to feel at home in this lifestyle, drawing closer to each member of the family. But when his fascination starts to verge on obsession, buried truths are unearthed, and will affect all concerned. “Saltburn” is scheduled for wide release in late November.

Emerald Fennell was born in London, and was discovered at Oxford while acting in university plays. Her prominent roles as an actor include he TV series “Call the Midwife” and “The Crown” (as Camilla Parker Bowles), as well as performing in the films “Anna Karenina” (2012) and “The Danish Girl” (2015). She serve under producer Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag”) in the BBC thriller “Killing Eve” and wrote/directed her debut “Promising Young Woman,” which released in 2020.

’Saltburn,’ Written and Directed by Emerald Fennell
Photo credit: Chicago International Film Festival

In part of a Podtalk interview with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, Emerald Fennell talks about “Saltburn” and Carey Mulligan …

By PATRICK McDONALD Editor and Film Critic/Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com