Movie title: Ammonite
Year Released: 2020
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Run time: 117 mins
My Rating:
3/5 Stars
Genre: Drama, History
Starring: Kate Winslet, Saoirse Ronan
Directed by: Francis Lee
Produced by: Mary Burke, Rose Garnett, Zygi Kamasa
Written by: Francis Lee
Music by: Volker Bertelmann, Dustin O'Halloran
Awards Received: European Film Award for European Costume Designer, Women Film Critics Circle Award for Best Onscreen Couple, Women Film Critics Circle Award for Best Kept Secret, Women Film Critics Circle Award for Best Movie about Women
Why did I choose this particular film?
Last year I listened to an episode of Marc Maron's "WTF" podcast* in which Kate Winslet discussed this film and the process of filming. Ever since listening, I have been trying to watch and like all the films with this challenge, I used this opportunity to finally sit down and tick the film off my watchlist.
* Linked below for reference
Would I recommend this film? Why or why not?
If you like period romance dramas, then this film is for you. Not a huge amount happens but the performances delivered by Winslet and Ronan are so beautifully painful and tender that it's worth a watch to see their incredible acting. Set in 1840s England, the film follows the story between Mary Anning (Winslet) a paleontologist who lives by the sea, and a young woman named Charlotte Murchison (Ronan) who comes to live with Anning in an attempt to improve her mental health. Ultimately the relationship between the two blossoms and the story develops. I wasn't blown away by the film overall, but the film redeems itself from their performances and so I recommend a watch if you are a fan of either actress.
Which character was I most able to identify with or connect with?
I feel I relate to both Anning and Murchison in different ways. Anning is devoted to her craft and her passions which include her profession of paleontology, whilst Murchison is extremely passionate and optimistic towards the end of the film when she begins to imagine her life with Anning. As someone who considers themselves an optimistic and passionate person, I definitely see many aspects of myself in both.
Best line or memorable quote:
"Yet in my dreams, a form I view that thinks on me and loves me too, I start and when the vision's flown, I weep and I am all alone."
Was I surprised by the ending? What would I do differently?
Whilst I feel the audience is led to support the union between the two, it is very clear by the ending of the film that in order for them both to flourish and thrive, they must go their separate ways. A bitter pill to swallow for both, it is the beauty of the ending, much like the ending of Chazelle's "La La Land,"** that they need to do what's best for themselves even if it means they have to say goodbye. In a way, it makes the time they did have together more special because it will always be locked in that little part of their personal histories.
**Link to La La Land film blog below
Imagine yourself living in this time period in the same place your film was set. What things would you be excited to witness or experience?
It would be incredibly exciting to be at the forefront of paleontology. Anning is one of the first people to be identifying these creatures for the first time and she gets to see her discoveries placed in museums such as the British Museum, shown at the end of the film. It must be incredible to experience that. I do not envy the traditional and prejudiced society both Anning and Murchison live in as they are not able to freely express their sexualities and relationship with one another, in addition to the inequality between man and woman within marriage. It was awful to see how depressed and isolated Murchison felt with her husband and it's extremely likely that is how many women felt during this time.
Anything else to add?
Once released, the film received mixed reviews due to the biographical nature of the story. Anning was a real paleontologist but there was never any confirmation surrounding her sexuality and hence this romantic tale between the two women is entirely fictional. Relations to Anning have spoken out and have vocalised how they feel it's not right to portray this relationship when her sexuality was unknown and she was quite a private person. Francis Lee has responded to these statements discussing how he paired her with a woman to add to her stand against society which continually pulled her down and continued to fail her. Many have also criticised how whilst it is good that audiences are being exposed to more lesbian relationships onscreen, these stories require members of the LGBTQIA+ community to portray these tales both behind the camera and at the forefront. Francis Lee is a gay man, but many have criticised further to say a lesbian film director should have been the one to portray this tale. Representation is always crucial to changing the narrative of stories within cinema yet it does raise a debate over whether this is truly enough to enact positive change on the nature of cinema overall. I invite you to consider your thoughts on this because I do feel it's an important topic and there is work that still needs to be done. Overall, the performances in the film were beautiful and it was an enjoyable watch.
Marc Maron Podcast episode link:
La La Land Blog: