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Ammonite (film)

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Ammonite
Official release poster
Directed byFrancis Lee
Written byFrancis Lee
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyStéphane Fontaine
Edited byChris Wyatt
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 11 September 2020 (2020-09-11) (TIFF)
  • 14 January 2021 (2021-01-14) (Australia)
  • 26 March 2021 (2021-03-26) (United Kingdom)
Running time
117 minutes[1]
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • Australia
LanguageEnglish
Budget< £10 million
($13.4 million)[2]
Box office$1.4 million[3][4]

Ammonite is a 2020 romantic drama film written and directed by Francis Lee. Loosely inspired by the life of British palaeontologist Mary Anning, played by Kate Winslet, the film centres on a speculative romantic relationship between Anning and geologist Charlotte Murchison, played by Saoirse Ronan. Gemma Jones, James McArdle, Alec Secăreanu and Fiona Shaw also star.

Ammonite had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 11 September 2020. It was released in Australia on 14 January 2021 by Transmission Films and in the United Kingdom on 26 March 2021 by Lionsgate.

Plot

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In 1840s, fossil collector Mary Anning lives with her ailing mother, Molly, who helps her daughter run a small shop in Lyme Regis, Dorset. Mary spends the early mornings on the beach at low tide in search of fossils for the shop, with tiny ammonites being her most common find. When Mary returns, she helps her mother wash and polish a collection of eight animal figurines.

One day, archeologist Roderick Murchison visits Mary's shop with his wife, Charlotte. He expresses admiration for Mary's work and offers to pay her for a guided trip to the shore where he can learn from Mary about fossil collecting. While initially antagonistic, Mary accepts his offer. That night in their room at the Three Cups Hotel, Roderick treats Charlotte coldly, rebuffing her sexual advances and saying that now is not the time to have another baby.

Roderick returns from his morning trip with Mary and finds Charlotte confined to her bed in a depressed state. He returns to Mary's shop and reveals that Charlotte has been sent to Lyme Regis in order to convalesce, and entrusts her to Mary's care as he will be departing to Europe for four to six weeks. Mary reluctantly agrees, not wanting to pass up the money. Charlotte begins going out with Mary on her morning beach trips.

After bathing in the ocean as part of her rehabilitation, Charlotte falls ill with a high fever. Her physician, Dr. Lieberson, prescribes bed rest and assigns Mary to be her bedside nurse. Mary visits her friend Elizabeth Philpot, from whom she purchases a jar of salve to aid Charlotte's recovery. Mary refuses Elizabeth's friendly offer to come in for a visit. Charlotte quickly recovers, and from then on accompanies Mary on more outings and tries to help with domestic chores. Together with Mary, she is able to construct a mirror frame made of cowries. Saddened by her own failed attempts to have a baby, Charlotte learns that the figurines which Molly cleans every day represent her eight deceased children.

Dr. Lieberson visits the shop and invites Mary to an evening recital. Mary accepts but insists on bringing Charlotte as well, whom she believes has made a full recovery. That night, Charlotte meets and mingles with the townsfolk as an overwhelmed and jealous Mary smokes outside in the rain while watching through the window. They watch a magic lantern show set to music before Mary leaves and returns home during the rainstorm. Charlotte arrives soon after and finds Mary writing a romantic poem in her journal.

Using the boards from a beached boat, Mary and Charlotte transfer a large rock to the shop. Inside, they find the fossil of an Ichthyosaur similar to one which Mary found when she was aged 11 and sent to the British Museum. As they clean Mary's tools in preparation before going to bed, Charlotte kisses Mary goodnight; this inflames their attraction to one another, and they engage in oral sex. Their relationship blossoms, as they swim in the sea and share their meals. A letter arrives from Roderick, instructing Charlotte to return to London. Distraught, Charlotte and Mary have passionate sex the night before Charlotte's departure. Sometime later, Molly suffers a fall at home and dies soon afterwards. Elizabeth visits the depressed Mary to express her condolences. She encourages Mary to not abandon her relationship with Charlotte, as Mary did with their own romantic relationship after the death of Mary's father.

Mary receives a letter from Charlotte asking her to come to London. Upon arriving at the Murchison house, Mary sees one of her large ammonite fossils on display in a glass cabinet. Charlotte takes Mary upstairs, where she shows Mary a fully furnished bedroom ready for her to move into. Perturbed, Mary leaves after accusing Charlotte of not respecting her life, stating she will not become an ornament for Charlotte to display in a "gilded cage."

At the British Museum, Mary makes her way through the galleries. She finds the exhibit case containing her original Ichthyosaurus but sees that it makes no mention of her. Charlotte arrives dressed in clothes similar to Mary's, and the two women gaze at each other through the glass.

Cast

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Production

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In December 2018, it was announced Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan had joined the cast of the film, with Francis Lee directing the screenplay he wrote. Iain Canning, Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly and Emile Sherman serve as producers with See-Saw Films, BBC Films and the British Film Institute.[6] In March 2019, Fiona Shaw announced her role in the film.[7] In May 2019, it was announced Alec Secăreanu, James McArdle and Gemma Jones had joined the cast of the film.[8]

Principal photography began on 11 March 2019, in Lyme Regis, Dorset.[9][10][11] The scenes were shot chronologically in order to deepen the immersion in the characters' psychological trajectory.[12] David Tucker, director of the Lyme Regis Museum, consulted on the film's scientific accuracy.[13]

Release

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In February 2019, Lionsgate and Transmission Films acquired UK and Australian distribution rights to Ammonite, respectively.[14] In January 2020, Neon acquired US and Canadian distribution rights to the film for $3 million.[15] Ammonite was set to world premiere at that year's Cannes Film Festival, prior to its cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[16] It was also selected to screen at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado in September of that year, prior to its cancellation also due to the pandemic.[17]

Ammonite had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 11 September.[18] Winslet was awarded TIFF's Tribute Actor Award.[19][20] Ammonite has or is scheduled to be screened at several film festivals including Deauville,[21] Hamptons,[22] Mill Valley,[23] Newfest,[24] Ghent,[25] London,[26] Chicago[27] and Montclair.[28]

Ammonite was theatrically released in the United States on 13 November.[29] It was subsequently released in Australia on 14 January 2021[30] and in the United Kingdom on 26 March 2021.[31]

Reception

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Box office

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In its opening weekend the film grossed $87,552 from 280 cinemas.[32]

Critical response

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On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 69% based on 252 reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "The chemistry between Saoirse Ronan and a never-better Kate Winslet helps Ammonite transcend its period romance trappings."[33] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 72 out of 100, based on 41 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[34]

Katie Rife of The A.V. Club gave the film a B− for a lack of chemistry between the leads and an inconsistent tone: "this is a film that runs either burning-hot or bone-chilling cold, contrasting blue toes dipping into freezing, frothy sea water with flushed cheeks and tousled updos in post-coital repose".[35] The Hollywood Reporter placed the movie number 4 at their best films of 2020 year-end list.[36] The film was placed at the 27th position on the IndieWire list of the 50 Best Movies of 2020[37] and 43rd at the Esquire year-end list.[38] The movie also appeared on the RogerEbert.com "The Best Films of 2020" year-end list.[39]

Historical accuracy

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There is no evidence as to Anning's sexuality in real life, and the film's historical accuracy has been questioned.[40] Two of Anning's distant relatives were reported as having differing views on the decision to depict her as a lesbian, with Lorraine Anning supporting the film, but Barbara Anning criticizing the choice.[41]

Lee defended his decision, saying in a series of tweets, "After seeing queer history be routinely 'straightened' throughout culture, and given a historical figure where there is no evidence whatsoever of a heterosexual relationship, is it not permissible to view that person within another context? Would these newspaper writers have felt the need to whip up uninformed quotes from self-proclaimed experts if the character’s sexuality had been assumed to be heterosexual?"[42][43] Some reviews also criticized the choice.[44] A piece in The Guardian read, "No one knows if Mary Anning had lovers. But what a new film does get right is the vital role women played in her life".[45]

Accolades

[edit]
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
AACTA International Awards 6 March 2021 Best Supporting Actress Saoirse Ronan Nominated [46]
ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards 17 May 2021 Film Score of the Year Volker Bertelmann Nominated [47]
British Academy Film Awards 11 April 2021 Best Costume Design Michael O'Connor Nominated [48]
British Independent Film Awards 18 February 2021 Best Costume Design Nominated [49]
Best Make Up & Hair Design Ivana Primorac Nominated
Casting Society of America Awards 15 April 2021 Artios Award for Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Studio or Independent Feature (Comedy) Fiona Weir Nominated [50]
Dorian Awards 18 April 2021 Best LGBTQ Film Ammonite Nominated [51]
GLAAD Media Award 8 April 2021 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film – Limited Release Nominated [52][53]
Hollywood Music in Media Awards 27 January 2021 Best Original Score in an Independent Film Dustin O’Halloran and Volker Bertelmann Nominated [54][55]
London Film Critics' Circle 7 February 2021 Technical Achievement (cinematography) Stéphane Fontaine Nominated [56]
North Dakota Film Society Awards 15 January 2021 Best Actress Kate Winslet Nominated [57][58]
Best Supporting Actress Saoirse Ronan Nominated
Best Original Score Dustin O’Halloran and Volker Bertelmann Nominated
Online Association of Female Film Critics 1 March 2021 Best Cinematography Stéphane Fontaine Nominated [59][60]
San Francisco International Film Festival 18 December 2020 SFFILM Sloan Science in Cinema Prize Ammonite Won [61]
Satellite Awards 15 February 2021 Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Kate Winslet Nominated [62]
Seville European Film Festival 14 November 2020 Golden Giraldillo Ammonite Nominated [63]
The International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography Camerimage 21 November 2020 Golden Frog Nominated [64]
Women Film Critics Circle Awards 8 March 2021 Best Movie About Women Runner-up [65]
Best Screen Couple Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan Won
Best Kept Secret – Overlooked Challenging Gems Ammonite Won

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ammonite". British Board of Film Classification. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  2. ^ Gant, Charles (4 September 2020). "Francis Lee on making 'Ammonite' and his "obsession with class"". Screen Daily. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Ammonite (2020)". The Numbers. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Ammonite (2020)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  5. ^ Herridge, Tori; Sykes, Becky Wragg (20 March 2019). "Behind a lesbian furore over a famous palaeontologist lies a deeper truth". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  6. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (14 December 2018). "Kate Winslet & Saoirse Ronan To Star In Romance 'Ammonite' For 'The King's Speech' & 'Lady Macbeth' Producers".
  7. ^ "Fiona Shaw: 'I'm delighted to be in with the young crowd!'". The Guardian. 3 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  8. ^ Grater, Tom (14 May 2019). "First look at Kate Winslet, Saoirse Ronan in romantic drama 'Ammonite' (exclusive)". Screen International. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  9. ^ "The filming of Ammonite in Lyme Regis starring Kate Winslet & Saoirse Ronan", Love Lyme Regis, 18 October 2019
  10. ^ Mulchahey, Jennifer (12 February 2019). "Ammonite will star Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan and be filmed in Lyme Regis". bridportnews.co.uk. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  11. ^ Cartlidge, Sarah (19 February 2019). "Mary Anning film starring Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan to start filming in Dorset soon". bournemothecho.co.uk. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  12. ^ Saoirse Ronan and Kate Winslet Hope 'Ammonite' Will Normalize LGBTQ Love Stories www.youtube.com Accessed 4 December 2021
  13. ^ Tucker, David (5 January 2021). "When Kate Winslet Came To Lyme Regis". Sloan Science & Film.
  14. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (5 February 2019). "Kate Winslet-Saoirse Ronan Romance 'Ammonite' Pre-Sells To Sony, Lionsgate & Transmission After Heated Auction". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  15. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (25 January 2020). "NEON Lands U.S. & Canada Rights On Saoirse Ronan-Kate Winslet-Starrer 'Ammonite' For $3 Million". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  16. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (3 June 2020). "Cannes Film Festival Reveals 2020 Lineup: Wes Anderson, Steve McQueen, Kate Winslet & Pixar". Deadline. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  17. ^ Keegan, Rebecca (3 August 2020). "Inside the Telluride Film Festival That Would Have Been". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  18. ^ "Ammonite". TIFF. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  19. ^ Rosser, Michael. "Kate Winslet to receive TIFF Tribute Actor Award". Screen Daily. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  20. ^ Hammond, Pete (16 July 2020). "Kate Winslet To Receive Toronto Film Festival Tribute Actor Award; Cannes Classics Lineup Revealed". Deadline. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  21. ^ Croll, Ben (3 September 2020). "Deauville Film Festival Gets Ready for Guests". Variety. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  22. ^ McNary, Dave (17 September 2020). "Hamptons Film Festival Adds 'Ammonite,' 'Wander Darkly' and 'Minari' to Lineup". Variety. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  23. ^ McNary, Dave (22 September 2020). "Film News in Brief: Mill Valley Film Festival Announces Lineup". Variety. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  24. ^ "Ammonite to open 2020 NewFest as drive-in". NewFest. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  25. ^ "Ammonite". Film Fest Gent. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  26. ^ Parfitt, Orlando (26 August 2020). "Francis Lee's 'Ammonite' to close BFI London Film Festival". Screen Daily. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  27. ^ Phillips, Michael (22 September 2020). "Chicago International Film Festival goes digital AND outdoors, featuring 'Belushi,' Rachel Brosnahan, Kate Winslet, 'One Night in Miami' and 'Nomadland'". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  28. ^ McNary, Dave (18 September 2020). "'Nomadland' to Open Montclair Film Festival, 'One Night in Miami' to Close". Variety. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  29. ^ Sharf, Zack (25 August 2020). "'Ammonite' Trailer: Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan Unite in Francis Lee's Lesbian Romance". IndieWire. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  30. ^ "Ammonite". Transmission Films. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  31. ^ "Ammonite". Launching Films. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  32. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (15 November 2020). "Blumhouse Body Swap Horror Comedy 'Freaky' Takes In $3.7M, On Par With Other No. 1 Pics During Fall Pandemic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  33. ^ "Ammonite (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  34. ^ "Ammonite Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  35. ^ Rife, Katie (11 November 2020). "Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan Run Hot and Cold in the Period Romance Ammonite". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  36. ^ "Hollywood Reporter Critics Pick the Best Films of 2020". The Hollywood Reporter. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  37. ^ Sharf, Zack (5 January 2021). "The 50 Best Movies of 2020, According to Over 230 Film Critics".
  38. ^ Schager, Nick (16 December 2020). "The Best Movies of 2020". Esquire.
  39. ^ "The Best Films of 2020". RogerEbert.com. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  40. ^ "Ammonite: Who was the real Mary Anning?". BBC News. 16 October 2020.
  41. ^ Singh, Anita (11 March 2019). "Film-makers create fictional same-sex romance to spice up story of 'unsung hero of fossil world'". The Telegraph – via The Daily Telegraph.
  42. ^ "Mary Anning biopic director defends film's lesbian romance storyline". The Guardian. 19 March 2019.
  43. ^ "Lesbian storyline defended by film director Francis Lee". BBC News. 18 March 2019.
  44. ^ Black, Riley. "'Ammonite' Is Historical Fan Fiction About the World's First Great Fossil Hunter". Smithsonian Magazine.
  45. ^ "Behind a lesbian furore over a famous paleontologist lies a deeper truth". Guardian. 20 March 2019. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  46. ^ "Australian Academy announces nominations for the 10th AACTA International Awards including new global TV categories". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. 13 February 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  47. ^ "2021 Composers Choice Award Nominees". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  48. ^ "2021 EE British Academy Film Awards: The Nominations". British Academy Film Awards. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  49. ^ "British Independent Film Award Noms Led by 'Saint Maud,' 'His House,' 'Calm with Horses'". Indiewire. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  50. ^ Sheehan, Paul (19 February 2021). "Casting Society of America 2021 Artios Awards nominations: 'Da 5 Bloods,' 'Minari,' 'Promising Young Woman,' 'Sound of Metal'". Gold Derby. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  51. ^ Beresford, Trilby (11 February 2021). "Dorian Film Awards: 'Minari' Tops Nominations From LGBTQ Entertainment Critic". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  52. ^ Beresford, Trilby (28 January 2021). "GLAAD Media Awards: 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom,' 'Happiest Season' Among Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  53. ^ "GLAAD Media Awards 2021: The winners list". CNN. 9 April 2021.
  54. ^ Willman, Chris (15 January 2021). "Hollywood Music in Media Awards Announces 2021 Nominees; Kenny Loggins Set for Lifetime Honor (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  55. ^ Grein, Paul (27 January 2021). "Diane Warren & James Newton Howard Among Top Winners at 2021 Hollywood Music in Media Awards". Billboard. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  56. ^ Cline, Rich (12 January 2021). "Female Filmmakers Lead Nominees for Critics Circle Film Awards". London Film Critics' Circle. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  57. ^ Knollin, Scottie (8 January 2021). ""Mank" Leads the 2nd NDFS Awards Nominations". North Dakota Film Society. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  58. ^ Knollin, Scottie (15 January 2021). ""Nomadland" Named Best Picture at the 2nd NDFS Awards". North Dakota Film Society. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  59. ^ "Online Association of Female Film Critics 2020 Awards Nominees". Online Association of Female Film Critics. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  60. ^ "Online Association of Female Film Critics 2020 Awards – Winners". 1 March 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  61. ^ "SFFILM Awards 2020 Sloan Science in Cinema Prize to Francis Lee's 'Ammonite'". San Francisco International Film Festival. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  62. ^ Van Blaricom, Mirjana (1 February 2021). "25th Satellite Awards Nominees for Motion Pictures and Television Announced". International Press Academy. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  63. ^ "17 FEATURE FILMS TO COMPETE FOR THE GOLDEN GIRALDILLO AT THE SEVILLE FESTIVAL". Seville Film Festival. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  64. ^ "Camerimage Reveals Main Competition Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  65. ^ Benardello, Karen (8 March 2021). "The Women Film Critics Circle Awards 2020's Best Movies". Shock Ya. Retrieved 8 March 2021.

Further reading

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