A review of the new film “Ammonite”
I had expected a celebration of the talent of an under-appreciated female scientist (like “Radioactive”) but instead found a tender tale of a lesbian relationship between a talented woman and her mentee ( a bit like “Portrait Of A Lady On Fire”). The reality is that there is absolutely no evidence of a relationship between early 19th century palaeontologist Mary Anning (Kate Winslet), known later as ‘The Fossil Finder’, and Charlotte Murchison (Saoirse Ronan).
I would have preferred either a fuller biographical representation of a real life scientist or an exploration of a fictional 19th century lesbian friendship but, if we overlook the conceit of writer and director Francis Lee (who is himself gay), we have a powerful piece of film-making.
This was my first visit to a cinema in many months after the third lockdown of pandemic Britain and it was a sheer joy to experience a large screen, wonderful sound and an audience in a dark theatre. The last time that I saw Lyme Regis in a film was “The French Lieutenant’s Woman” and since then I’ve actually visited this historic town with its nearby ammonite-rich Jurassic coast.
Although the slow and languid treatment is more art house than might be expected, the cinematography – all muted colours and atmospheric sound – is a delight and Winslet and Ronan are magnificent with a script that often involves repressed body language and sparse dialogue. At the end of it all, one longs to visit the British Museum and see some of Anning’s spectacular finds.