Starring: Kate Winslet, Saoirse Ronan, Gemma Jones, James McArdle, Alec Secăreanu, Fiona Shaw
OUR RATING: ★★★☆☆
Story:
Period romantic drama written and directed by Francis Lee. The story is set in 1840s England, and it follows acclaimed but overlooked fossil hunter Mary Anning (Kate Winslet), who works alone on the rugged Southern coastline. With the days of her famed discoveries behind her, she now searches for common fossils to sell to tourists to support herself and her ailing mother. Then a wealthy visitor, Roderick Murchison (James McArdle), entrusts Mary with the care of his wife, Charlotte Murchison (Saoirse Ronan), who is recuperating from a personal tragedy. Mary, who cannot afford to turn the offer down, but, proud and relentlessly passionate about her work, she clashes with her unwelcome guest. The two women are from utterly different worlds, but despite the distance between their social class and personalities, an intense bond begins to develop, compelling them to determine the true nature of their relationship, altering both of their lives forever.
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Our Favorite Quote:
'Is it that I am all alone? 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.' - Charlotte Murchison (Ammonite) Click To Tweet
Best Quotes
Molly Anning: [to Mary] Shouldn’t you be out? We could do with more shells. Them little ammonites, tourist tut. And driftwood. Before I catch my death.
Roderick Murchison: No, please, don’t let me disturb you. I am very content to watch you work.
Mary Anning: The shop’s closed, sir.
Roderick Murchison: It’s wonderful, isn’t it? Cornu ammonis?
Mary Anning: Ammonite. It’s a broken one.
Roderick Murchison: But it’s still a fine specimen.
Mary Anning: Is there something you wanted, sir?
Roderick Murchison: Sorry. Please, let me introduce myself, Miss Anning. Roderick Murchison. I must confess I’m a little in awe. Your reputation is something I’ve often heard discussed in the Geographical Society in London.
Mary Anning: All boys together.
Roderick Murchison: Yes, well, quite. But your insights, your skills, are legendary. And I thought for my archaeological tour of the Continent, how could I miss the opportunity to meet you? And here you are. At your work.
Mary Anning: I was under the impression that fine London gentlemen were no longer interested in my sea creature relics. Fashion moved on, did it not?
Roderick Murchison: Quite. I’m afraid I’m a bit of a late starter. And how could I not want to meet “the presiding deity of Lyme”?
Mary Anning: It’d be customary for a gentleman to write to me to make an appointment, before arriving unannounced.
Roderick Murchison: Yes, unforgivable.
Roderick Murchison: May I introduce my wife, Mrs. Charlotte Murchison?
Mary Anning: Sir, as you can see, I don’t excavate larger pieces any more.
Roderick Murchison: I would love to purchase this ammonite from you, but I must be honest. What I would dearly appreciate is the opportunity to spend some time working with you, on the shore, seeing what you see.
Mary Anning: I don’t conduct guided tours any more.
Roderick Murchison: I’m not a tourist, Miss Anning. I’m a scientist, like you. A man of the new world, and I’m here to learn all I can from you. And, of course, I am more than happy to recompense you for your time. And, obviously, as it’s an inconvenience to yourself, I would be able to pay a premium for a private audience. As well as the purchase of this fine ammonite, of course.
Mary Anning: It’s not easy work.
Roderick Murchison: Good.
Mary Anning: I can’t promise we’ll find anything.
Roderick Murchison: Naturally.
Mary Anning: Very well.
Roderick Murchison: Splendid! You’ve no idea what this means to me. My friends will be most envious.
Roderick Murchison: [to Charlotte, as they are in bed together] It’s not the right time to make another baby.
Mary Anning: [referring to the fossil] Oh, that’s nice. Coprolite. Very nice.
Roderick Murchison: I’m not familiar with this type.
Mary Anning: If you look very carefully, you can see tiny fish bones. Those little black flecks, they’re scales. That’ll polish up very nice. Thank you.
Roderick Murchison: But what is it?
Mary Anning: Fossilized feces.
Roderick Murchison: Pardon?
Mary Anning: Yes, Mr. Murchison. S**t.
Charlotte Murchison: What are you doing?
Roderick Murchison: Taking you out of this stinking room.
Charlotte Murchison: I don’t want to.
Roderick Murchison: I’m afraid that’s no longer a choice.
Roderick Murchison: We can’t continue like this, Charlotte. You’re like a shadow. It simply won’t do. It’s madness for me to expect you to be well enough to accompany me abroad. It seems you need more time for your convalescence.
Charlotte Murchison: Roddy.
Roderick Murchison: Lyme appears to be the perfect place for you.
Roderick Murchison: This expedition is extensive. You were prescribed rest. Sea bathing.
Charlotte Murchison: I don’t like the water.
Roderick Murchison: Little stimulation. I want my bright, funny, clever wife back.
Charlotte Murchison: I don’t want to be alone.
Roderick Murchison: My wife, Charlotte, she hasn’t been at all well of late. She suffers, well, it’s mild melancholia, perhaps. The doctor prescribed taking the sea air, but it has been a little slow. I have arranged for her to stay on in Lyme, and although I’m reassured that she will be well cared for, she would be alone. I was thinking, hoping, really, what a wonderful opportunity it would be for her to walk out with you.
Mary Anning: Walk out?
Roderick Murchison: Yes. Walk the shoreline with you. Learn from you.
Mary Anning: I’m not looking for an apprentice.
Mary Anning: I am in no position to spend my days caring for an invalid.
Roderick Murchison: No. And it wouldn’t require you to. You showed me such courtesy yesterday, sharing your knowledge, and I was hoping that you might be able to afford my wife the same generosity. You’ll help give her an interest, as it were.
Charlotte Murchison: What is it?
Mary Anning: Something. Nothing.
Charlotte Murchison: Shouldn’t you excavate it? I mean, isn’t that what you do? My husband said that’s what you’re meant to show me.
Mary Anning: Let me be clear. I don’t want you here. Your husband paid me to take you out with me. Doesn’t matter to me if you want to be here or not. But please don’t question or presume to tell me how I conduct my business.
Charlotte Murchison: I came to get help with my illness. To bathe and to walk. Not work like a navvy.
Mary Anning: Bathe? Then may I suggest you rid me of your bad company and go get better bathing.
Charlotte Murchison: My husband…
Mary Anning: Your husband left you.
[Charlotte turns and walks off]
Mary Anning: There looks to be f*** all wrong with you to me.
Dr. Lieberson: [referring to Charlotte] There appears to be a high fever. Did she take a chill yesterday? Get wet in the rain, perhaps?
Mary Anning: I don’t know. Maybe she went bathing.
Dr. Lieberson: Oh, yes. Water torture. She’ll need care. Night and day.
Mary Anning: I’m not a nurse, Doctor. I barely know the woman.
Dr. Lieberson: Yes. Miss Anning, it is a woman’s position to care for a fellow sister, is it not?
Molly Anning: [referring to Charlotte who is recovering from fever] How long is she intending on being in residence? You should send her home to that London. It’s not our responsibility.
Mary Anning: She might die, mother.
Molly Anning: How are we to survive while you play a lady’s maid?
Mary Anning: We’ll manage.
Molly Anning: If she is to be accommodated in my home, with constant care, and you turfed out of your bed, that husband of hers needs to pay more!
Elizabeth Philpot: I haven’t seen you in church for some time.
Mary Anning: Well, I’ve had my work.
Elizabeth Philpot: Mary, work on Sunday? Will God forgive you?
Dr. Lieberson: Miss Anning, I must commend you. I did not expect to see Mrs. Murchison looking quite as radiant as she does. Really. Wonderful work. Good. Excellent. A good pot of strong broth. Keep using the salve, gentle exercise and sea air. Try not to excite yourself, Mrs. Murchison.
Charlotte Murchison: I was thinking, perhaps we might go out onto the beach this morning. Just take the air. If you think I’m strong enough.
Mary Anning: Do you think you’re strong enough?
Charlotte Murchison: I do, I think.
Charlotte Murchison: [referring to Mary’s work] That looks difficult.
Mary Anning: Dull. Cheap tourist fodder.
Charlotte Murchison: You look tired.
Mary Anning: I always look tired.
Charlotte Murchison: You look after me like your child. You don’t have any?
Mary Anning: What a lot of questions. I might have preferred it when you were unconscious.
Mary Anning: No. No children.
Charlotte Murchison: I’m sorry.
Mary Anning: For what? My mother had ten. I remember six of them dying. And two before me. Eight babies dead. Each one taking something of her when they went. I have my work. I didn’t need children as well.
Charlotte Murchison: You can’t keep sleeping in that chair. You need your rest. I’ve taken your bed for too long.
Mary Anning: Did you want to go back to the hotel?
Charlotte Murchison: No. Unless you want me to.
Mary Anning: No.
Charlotte Murchison: We should share the bed.
Molly Anning: [as Charlotte is cleaning the figurines] What are you doing?
Charlotte Murchison: I wanted to help.
Molly Anning: They’re mine. My babies.
Mary Anning: [after Lieberson invites Mary to a social event] What about Mrs. Murchison?
Dr. Lieberson: Pardon? I’m not sure I understand.
Mary Anning: Well, Mrs. Murchison appreciates music much more than I do. Where’s her invitation? I would naturally be accompanied by Mrs. Murchison in her own right. Do you not think?
Dr. Lieberson: Yes. I just thought given Mrs. Murchison’s condition, this might prove a little overstimulating.
Mary Anning: Rubbish.
Dr. Lieberson: [referring to Charlotte] As her doctor, I would strongly advise against it.
Mary Anning: And as her friend, I disagree. Dr. Lieberson, I will happily attend your recital. But with Mrs. Murchison.
Dr. Lieberson: So be it. Excellent. I will see you both this evening, then.
Charlotte Murchison: [reading Mary’s poem] “Is it that I am all alone? 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.”
Charlotte Murchison: [to Mary, referring to the social event] You were the most fascinating person there tonight. And I think the most beautiful.
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