The Unique Aesthetic of Saltburn: A 4:3 Aspect Ratio Film

The Impact of Aspect Ratio on Film Aesthetics

The aesthetic of Saltburn is very distinct, and its aspect ratio is part of what contributes to the feeling of unease within the movie. Saltburn is Emerald Fennell's second feature-length directorial effort, and her choice to make use of the 4:3 ratio differs from that of her first movie, 2020's controversial Promising Young Woman. The 4:3 ratio isn't commonly used in the modern age of cinema, but it still has a place due to the stylistic impact it can have on a movie. 2023's Saltburn deviates from the norm of a 16:9 widescreen radio, adding to the film's feel. While 16:9 gives a wider image, using 4:3 results in a picture that's much more square. Fennell's movie benefits from the various advantages of making a movie in this way, including changing how certain scenes are perceived and influencing the audience's feelings about the Saltburn characters. For instance, some sequences featuring the Catton family in Saltburn would have felt different if shot in another aspect ratio. The film's director has cited a few of her main reasons for opting to shoot Saltburn in 4:3, and they give an interesting insight into her creative process.

Barry Keoghan as Oliver Quick in Saltburn looking lost in thought

Saltburn in widescreen would have lost something. The 4:3 ratio isn't commonly used in the modern age of cinema, but it still has a place due to the stylistic impact it can have on a movie. 2023's Saltburn deviates from the norm of a 16:9 widescreen radio, adding to the film's feel. While 16:9 gives a wider image, using 4:3 results in a picture that's much more square. Fennell's movie benefits from the various advantages of making a movie in this way, including changing how certain scenes are perceived and influencing the audience's feelings about the Saltburn characters. For instance, some sequences featuring the Catton family in Saltburn would have felt different if shot in another aspect ratio.

Rosamund Pika as Elspeth wearing a glamorous dress in Saltburn

Emerald Fennell has a good reason for using the 4:3 aspect ratio in Saltburn. Speaking with Vanity Fair, Fennell likened the experience of watching Saltburn to 'peeping in' at a doll's house. This contributed to her choice to use the 4:3 aspect ratio when shooting the movie, to give the impression of spying on events that wouldn't otherwise be witnessed. In the same interview, Fennell mentions Saltburn's themes of intense desire, as well as harnessing the disgust she feels when she catches herself coveting something she sees on platforms such as Instagram. Interestingly, the format of Instagram posts also tends to fall on the square side, which would create a compelling parallel between the social media site and the look of Saltburn as a movie.

Oliver arriving at the house in Saltburn

The Cinematic Impact of 4:3 Aspect Ratio

Fennell's movie benefits from the various advantages of making a movie in this way, including changing how certain scenes are perceived and influencing the audience's feelings about the Saltburn characters. For instance, some sequences featuring the Catton family in Saltburn would have felt different if shot in another aspect ratio. The film's director has cited a few of her main reasons for opting to shoot Saltburn in 4:3, and they give an interesting insight into her creative process. Fennell's choice to use the 4:3 ratio differs from that of her first movie, 2020's controversial Promising Young Woman. The 4:3 ratio isn't commonly used in the modern age of cinema, but it still has a place due to the stylistic impact it can have on a movie.

Barry Keoghan as Oliver in Saltburn sitting at a grand table setting looking at his own reflection

Fennell shooting Saltburn in 4:3 also accentuates other aspects of the movie. Due to the narrower shot size, it can be easier for something or someone to fill the frame. The choice aided in the impact of the most twisted moments in Saltburn. In an interview with Filmmaker Magazine, Fennel confirms this possibility also influenced her choice to shoot her film in the 4:3 format. During the exchange, Fennell said, 'I like extreme closeups, especially when you're talking about sex and intimacy.' Concerning the 4:3 ratio, she added, 'You can have a full face. It can fill the frame completely.'

Oliver and Felix driving in a car in Saltburn

Filming Saltburn in a wider format would have altered how some of the movie's other key shots were framed. For instance, the bathtub conversation between Oliver and Venetia would have allowed for much more space around both characters if it were shot in 16:9. Much of the intensity in the scene comes from the fact that the characters look penned in together, almost trapped in the exchange. Many older TV shows used to be shot in a 4:3 aspect ratio before people had widescreen televisions in their homes.

Alison Oliver as Venetia Catton with her face close to Barry Keoghan as Oliver Quick in Saltburn

The Relationship Between Aspect Ratio and Movie Themes

Saltburn focuses hard on certain themes and emotions, while also touching on other ancillary feelings. The emotion of desire is one of the central subjects of Saltburn, in reference to both material gain and sexual gratification. There's also the matter of most of the movie's events being confined to a single setting - the Saltburn estate. Framing all the shots for capture in a 4:3 format helps to not only exaggerate Oliver's various desires but also how focused he is on his plan to take Saltburn. In addition, the tight framing implies that the characters are trapped there with Oliver.

Barry Keoghan as Oliver standing at a balcony covered in streamers wearing a bathrobe and boxers in Saltburn

There's also the argument Saltburn's aspect ratio could have something to do with when the movie is set. Saltburn is set in the mid-2000s, and although widescreen televisions were commonplace by then, the movie's 4:3 format cements the fact that the film's events have already taken place. However, the ratio's implications are far more relevant to the themes in Saltburn than they are to the period in which it's set. Saltburn is available to stream now on Amazon Prime Video.