Based on the life of British palaeontologist Mary Anning and her romantic interest Charlotte Murchison, Ammonite is a queer dramatic period piece set in 1840s England. The film is directed by Francis Lee, the director of God’s Own Country.
The movie stars Kate Winslet as Mary Anning and Saoirse Ronan as Charlotte Murchinson, along with Gemma Jones, James McArdle, Alec Secareanu, and Fiona Shaw.
The Plot
Ammonite revolves primarily around the budding romance between Mary and Charlotte. The two are introduced when Charlotte’s husband pays Anning to bring his wife along as she (Mary) searches for fossils on the coast. He wants to cure his wife of “melancholia” and offers to pay a hefty sum when Anning initially refuses.
The trailer shows Anning’s commendable work in discovering fossils from the Jurassic and Crustacean era, a.k.a ammonite. But, within the span of the two minutes trailer we realize those days are gone and she had resorted to hunting for common fossils to sell to tourists so she could support her life and her ailing mother.
When Mary and Charlotte meet, they don’t hit it off too well. Their social spheres clash and in a very A Portrait of a Lady on Fire way, they resent each other.
However, this soon gives way to them giving in to their attraction towards each other, successfully culminating all the tension we see in the trailer into a meaningful relationship.
Keeping in mind the era the film is set in, their love affair is the beginning of a risky, passionate and all-consuming relationship where the two women realize that they both could offer each other all that they wanted.
Overall, the trailer of Ammonite has set itself apart by the use of unique dialogue deliveries, the rustic tone of the gloomy colour palette, and providing quite a comprehensive gist for the film.
Release Date
The film is going to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 11 while the US release is on 13th November 2020.
Ammonite will also be the concluding piece for the 64th British Film Institute London Film Festival.
In a statement, BFI said: “The film will receive its UK premiere on Saturday 17 October and will be available to UK audiences at cinemas across the UK, who will also enjoy a virtual introduction from Lee and key cast.”
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