Ammonite (2020)

Overview

Ammonite is a slow-burning romantic drama set in 1840s England, portraying a fictionalized romance between pioneering paleontologist Mary Anning and a young woman recovering from grief. Deeply intimate and visually poetic, the film explores the emotional isolation of women in a male-dominated society—and how love can unexpectedly crack the hardest shells.

Plot Summary

Mary Anning (Kate Winslet) lives a quiet, solitary life on the rugged Lyme Regis coastline, unrecognized for her groundbreaking fossil discoveries. She spends her days combing the shoreline for ammonites and other prehistoric remnants, caring for her ailing mother, and enduring the disinterest of the scientific community.

Her world is disrupted when a wealthy visitor leaves behind his fragile young wife, Charlotte Murchison (Saoirse Ronan), in Mary’s care. At first resentful of the intrusion, Mary slowly warms to Charlotte, and the two women form an intense emotional and eventually physical bond. As their relationship deepens, both women are forced to confront their loneliness, societal constraints, and the fleeting nature of their connection.

Performances

• Kate Winslet delivers a restrained, internalized performance as Mary—stoic and wounded, yet profoundly human.

• Saoirse Ronan brings subtle vulnerability and strength to Charlotte, portraying her transformation with grace.

• The chemistry between the leads is slow to ignite but ultimately powerful.

• Fiona Shaw and Gemma Jones offer strong supporting turns in quietly impactful roles.

Tone & Style

• Deliberately paced, with minimal dialogue and emphasis on visual storytelling.

• Uses natural light and earthy tones to reflect the bleak beauty of Mary’s coastal world.

• Quiet but emotionally rich, echoing films like Portrait of a Lady on Fire and The Piano.

• Emphasizes texture, silence, and bodily presence—especially in scenes of physical intimacy.

Themes

• Female isolation and unacknowledged genius

• Forbidden love and the cost of emotional vulnerability

• Science and art as expressions of identity and resistance

• Class, gender, and societal roles in 19th-century Britain

Reception

• Critics: Generally positive, especially for its performances and cinematography.

• Some viewers found the film too slow or emotionally muted, while others praised its restraint.

• The historical inaccuracy of the romantic storyline drew debate, but it was defended as an imaginative exploration rather than biography.

Recommended For

• Fans of arthouse cinema and slow-burn romances

• Viewers who enjoyed Portrait of a Lady on Fire, The World to Come, or Carol

• Those drawn to stories about quiet resilience, repressed emotion, and queer history

Might Disappoint

• Viewers expecting a fast-moving plot or traditional biopic

• Those looking for explicit historical accuracy

• Audiences who prefer highly verbal or action-oriented drama

Final Verdict

Ammonite is a haunting, contemplative romance that captures the quiet ache of connection and the unspoken struggles of brilliant, silenced women. Powered by two remarkable performances, it’s a film that whispers rather than shouts—but leaves a lasting impression like the fossils it reveres.