Ammonite (2020)
Ammonite (2020)
Ammonite (2020) is a British romantic drama film directed by Francis Lee. The story is loosely inspired by the life of Mary Anning, a 19th-century paleontologist known for her significant contributions to the field of fossil hunting, particularly along the Jurassic Coast of England. The film reimagines a fictionalized romantic relationship between Mary Anning and Charlotte Murchison, a young woman sent to convalesce by the sea.
Set in 1840s Lyme Regis, Dorset, Mary Anning (played by Kate Winslet) is a self-taught and renowned paleontologist who spends her days meticulously searching the rocky shoreline for fossils, which she sells to tourists to support herself and her ailing mother. Despite her significant discoveries, Mary’s work is undervalued in a male-dominated scientific community.
Her quiet, solitary existence is disrupted when Roderick Murchison, a wealthy geologist, arrives in town with his young wife, Charlotte (played by Saoirse Ronan). Roderick is a fan of Maryโs work and asks her to take Charlotte under her care while he continues his travels, hoping the seaside environment will improve Charlotteโs fragile mental health.
Initially, Mary is reluctant to accept the task, but as the two women spend time together, a deep bond develops. Through shared moments of vulnerability and discovery, their relationship blossoms into a passionate love affair. Mary and Charlotteโs connection offers both women a sense of liberation and intimacy, defying societal norms and expectations of the era.
However, their relationship is tested by class differences, external pressures, and Maryโs struggles with loneliness and her place in the world. The film explores themes of love, isolation, resilience, and the quiet strength of women in history who have often been overlooked.
