The Dig

Movie Name: The Dig
Year of Release: 2021
Director: Simon Stone
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James, Johnny Flynn, Ben Chaplin, Ken Stott, Archie Barnes, Monica Dolan, Danny Webb, James Dryden, Joe Hurst, Paul Ready, Peter McDonald, Ellie Piercy, Bronwyn James
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7
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Synopsis and Review:

Actor/Director Simon Stone, has followed his previously well received feature "The Daughter" with "The Dig", a much higher profile feature, which has been distributed by streaming platform Netflix. The film is based on the book by John Preston, and is itself based on real facts that occurred in Britain during the 1930s and 40s. The film introduces us to landowner Edit Pretty, who in 1939 hires Basil Brown to uncover what lies beneath some burial grounds at her estate in Sutton Hoo. Mr. Brown who is self taught, negotiates his fees with Mrs. Pretty and starts the digging. When he eventually uncovers what it seems to be the ancient remnants of an Anglo-Saxon ship, the news quickly spreads, prompting the arrival of Charles Phillips and his team, who quickly dismiss the contribution and work he has done thus far. Even though Mrs. Pretty is battling health issues, she intervenes, and Basil resumes is work on the digging site. As more elements are uncovered, Phillips wants the artifacts to be sent to London, while Mrs. Pretty fearing for the War raids in London, and potentially for the destruction of the assets, vetoes that decision. She wins the right to do so as the landowner of the site itself. Mrs. Pretty eventually decides to make the donation to the British Museum, while also giving proper accreditation to Mr. Brown for the finding.

"The Dig" manages to be a film that flows easily, deftly capturing the lead characters and their challenges. The director focuses his attention on showcasing Mrs. Pretty as a conscientious, intelligent and sensitive woman, dealing with her own personal problems, all the while raising her son by herself and managing a property and employees with fairness. He also captures Mr. Brown's aspirations and hard working streak, allowing him to define this character as someone humble, yet with ambitions and knowledge backed up by experience. The relationship, of trust, friendship and respect, which is developed by these characters, is eventually what makes it so interesting. As an array of supporting characters appear, and have their own sub-plots, that in itself never steals away from the focus of the narrative, particularly the quiet intensity from Mrs. Pretty and also Mr. Brown. The film lives from the impeccable work from Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes. Though their characters are quite different, they manage to imbue them with a vitality, authority and even grit, which is memorable and elevates this film's emotional resonance. The cinematography from Mike Eley is beautiful, as is the score from Stefan Gregory. Worth watching.