Ammonite is a 2020 romantic drama film written and directed by Francis Lee. Based on the life of British paleontologist Mary Anning, played by Kate Winslet, the film focuses on an imagined romantic relationship between Anning and geologist Charlotte Murchison, played by Saoirse Ronan. Gemma Jones, James McArdle, Alec Secăreanu, and Fiona Shaw also appear in the film.

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

Plot

In the 1840s, Mary Anning, a paleontologist, lives with her sick mother, Molly, who helps run a small shop in Lyme Regis, Dorset. Mary searches for fossils on the beach at low tide in the early mornings, often finding small ammonites. After returning, she helps her mother clean and polish a set of eight animal figurines.

One day, Roderick Murchison, an archaeologist, visits Mary’s shop with his wife, Charlotte. He praises Mary’s work and offers to pay her for a guided trip to the shore to learn about fossil collecting. At first, Mary is unwilling but agrees. Later that night, Roderick treats Charlotte coldly, refusing her advances and stating he is not ready for another child.

Roderick returns from his trip and finds Charlotte in a sad mood in bed. He tells Mary that Charlotte has been sent to Lyme Regis to rest and asks Mary to care for her while he travels abroad for several weeks. Mary agrees, needing the money. Charlotte begins joining Mary on her beach trips.

After sea-bathing as part of her recovery, Charlotte develops a high fever. Her doctor, Dr. Lieberson, prescribes rest and asks Mary to care for her. Mary visits her friend Elizabeth Philpot to buy medicine, declining Elizabeth’s offer to stay. Charlotte recovers, joins Mary on outings, and helps with chores. Together, they make a mirror frame from cowries. Mary later learns that the figurines Molly cleans daily represent her eight children who died.

Dr. Lieberson invites Mary to an evening recital. Mary accepts but insists on bringing Charlotte, believing she has recovered. That night, Charlotte interacts with townspeople while Mary watches from outside, feeling overwhelmed. They later watch a magic lantern show before Mary returns home. Charlotte finds Mary writing a romantic poem in her journal.

Using wood from a beached boat, Mary and Charlotte move a large rock to the shop. Inside, they discover a fossil similar to one Mary found at age 11, which was sent to the British Museum. After cleaning their tools, Charlotte kisses Mary goodnight, deepening their bond. They spend time together, swimming and sharing meals. A letter from Roderick arrives, ordering Charlotte to return to London. Before her departure, Charlotte and Mary share a final intimate moment.

Later, Molly falls and dies. Elizabeth visits Mary, comforting her and encouraging her to continue her relationship with Charlotte, as she once did with Elizabeth after Mary’s father died.

Mary receives a letter from Charlotte, asking her to come to London. At the Murchison home, Mary sees one of her ammonite fossils displayed in a museum case. Charlotte shows Mary a furnished bedroom, but Mary leaves, upset, saying she will not become a decoration for Charlotte.

At the British Museum, Mary finds her original ichthyosaur fossil on display, but her name is not mentioned. Charlotte, dressed similarly to Mary, joins her, and the two women look at each other through the glass.

Cast

• Kate Winslet plays the role of Mary Anning
• Saoirse Ronan plays the role of Charlotte Murchison
• Fiona Shaw plays the role of Elizabeth Philpot
• Gemma Jones plays the role of Molly Anning
• James McArdle plays the role of Roderick Murchison
• Alec Secăreanu plays the role of Dr. Lieberson
• Claire Rushbrook plays the role of Eleanor Butters

Production

In December 2018, it was announced that Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan became part of the film's cast. Francis Lee directed the movie and wrote its screenplay. Iain Canning, Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly, and Emile Sherman were producers for the film, working with See-Saw Films, BBC Films, and the British Film Institute. In March 2019, Fiona Shaw joined the cast. In May 2019, Alec Secăreanu, James McArdle, and Gemma Jones were added to the film's cast.

Main filming began on March 11, 2019, in Lyme Regis, Dorset. Scenes were shot in the order of the story to help viewers better understand the characters' emotions. David Tucker, director of the Lyme Regis Museum, helped ensure the film's scientific details were accurate.

Release

In February 2019, Lionsgate and Transmission Films bought the rights to show the movie Ammonite in the United Kingdom and Australia/New Zealand, respectively. Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions secured distribution rights for most other international areas, including Italy, Latin America, the Middle East, Turkey, Scandinavia, South Africa, Spain, and Asia (except Japan). In January 2020, Neon purchased the rights to show the film in the United States and Canada for $3 million. Ammonite was planned to have its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 2020, but the event was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was also chosen to screen at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado in September 2020, but this event was also canceled due to the pandemic.

Ammonite had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11. Kate Winslet received TIFF's Tribute Actor Award. The film has been or will be shown at several festivals, including Deauville, Hamptons, Mill Valley, Newfest, Ghent, London, Chicago, and Montclair.

Ammonite was released in movie theaters in the United States on November 13. It was later released in Australia on January 14, 2021, and in the United Kingdom on March 26, 2021.

Reception

In its first weekend, the film earned $87,552 from 280 theaters.

On the review website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 69% approval rating based on 252 reviews, with an average score of 6.7 out of 10. The site's summary of reviews states, "The chemistry between Saoirse Ronan and a never-better Kate Winslet helps Ammonite transcend its period romance trappings." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 72 out of 100, based on 41 critics, which means the reviews are generally positive.

Katie Rife of The A.V. Club gave the film a B− grade, noting a lack of chemistry between the main characters and an inconsistent tone. She wrote, "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." The Hollywood Reporter ranked the movie number 4 on their list of the best films of 2020. The film was listed at 27th place on IndieWire's list of the 50 Best Movies of 2020 and 43rd on Esquire's year-end list. It also appeared on RogerEbert.com's "The Best Films of 2020" list.

There is no evidence about Mary Anning's real-life sexuality, and the film's historical accuracy has been questioned. Two of Anning's distant relatives had different opinions about the film's portrayal of her as a lesbian. Lorraine Anning supported the film, but Barbara Anning criticized the choice.

The film's director, Lee, defended the decision in a series of tweets. He wrote, "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?" Some reviews also criticized the choice. A piece in The Guardian stated, "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."