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The Dig (2021 film)

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The Dig
Official release poster
Directed bySimon Stone
Screenplay byMoira Buffini
Based onThe Dig
by John Preston
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMike Eley
Edited byJon Harris
Music byStefan Gregory[1]
Production
companies
Distributed byNetflix
Release dates
  • 14 January 2021 (2021-01-14) (New Zealand)
  • 15 January 2021 (2021-01-15) (United States)
  • 29 January 2021 (2021-01-29) (United Kingdom)
Running time
112 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The Dig is a 2021 British drama film directed by Simon Stone, based on the 2007 historical novel of the same name by John Preston, which reimagines the events of the 1939 excavation of Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, England. It stars Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James, Johnny Flynn, Ben Chaplin, Ken Stott, Archie Barnes, and Monica Dolan.

It had a limited release on 14 January 2021, followed by streaming on Netflix on 29 January 2021. The film received positive reviews from critics and received five nominations for the British Academy Film Awards, including one for Outstanding British Film.

Plot

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In 1939, Suffolk landowner Edith Pretty hires local self-taught archaeologist Basil Brown to tackle the large burial mounds at her rural estate in Sutton Hoo near Woodbridge. At first, she offers the same money he received from the Ipswich Museum, the agricultural wage,[2] but he says it is inadequate; so she increases her offer by 12% to £2 a week (approximately £120 in 2020), which he accepts.

His former employers fail to persuade Brown to work on a Roman villa they deem more important. They ignore Brown, who left school aged 12, when he suggests the mounds could be Anglo-Saxon rather than the more common Viking era.

Working with assistants from Pretty's estate, Brown slowly excavates the more promising of the mounds. One day the trench collapses on him, but they dig him out in time. He spends more time with Edith, a widow and her young son Robert, finding common interest in archaeology and astronomy with them. She supports his jobs as excavator despite the poor pay. Edith struggles with her health, warned by her doctor to avoid stress.

Brown is astonished to uncover iron rivets from a ship, suggesting that it is the burial site of someone of tremendous distinction, such as a king. Prominent local archaeologist James Reid Moir attempts to join the dig but is rebuffed; Edith instead hires her cousin Rory Lomax to join the project. News of the discovery soon spreads, and Cambridge archaeologist Charles Phillips arrives, declares the site to be of national importance, and takes over the dig by order of the Office of Works.

As the Second World War approaches, Phillips brings in a large team, including Peggy Piggott, who uncovers proof that it is Anglo-Saxon in origin. Brown is demoted to only keep the site in order but Edith intervenes and he resumes digging. Brown discovers a Merovingian Tremissis, a small gold coin of Late Antiquity and Phillips declares the site to be of major historical significance. Phillips wants to send all the artefacts to the British Museum but Edith, concerned about air raids in London, asserts her rights. An inquest finding confirms that she is the owner of the ship and its priceless treasure trove of grave goods but she despairs as her health continues to decline.

Peggy, neglected by her husband Stuart, begins a romance with Rory, but he is soon called up by the Royal Air Force. Edith decides to donate the Sutton Hoo treasure to the British Museum, requesting that Brown be given recognition for his work. The film ends with Brown and his co-workers replacing earth over the ship to preserve it.

As the end credits begin, text explains the fate of Edith and the recovered objects. Edith died in 1942. The treasure was hidden in the London Underground during the war and first exhibited—without any mention of Basil Brown—nine years after Edith's death. Only much later was Brown given full credit for his contribution and his name is now displayed permanently alongside Pretty's at the British Museum.

Cast

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Production

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The project began in 2006 when producer Ellie Wood read the manuscript of The Dig by John Preston, ahead of its 2007 publication, and optioned the novel in order to adapt it for the screen.[3] It was announced in September 2018 that Nicole Kidman and Ralph Fiennes were in negotiations to star in the film.[4] However, by August 2019, Kidman was no longer involved with the project due to her schedule clashing with another film, with Carey Mulligan cast to replace her. The rights for the film also moved from BBC Films to Netflix.[5] Lily James entered negotiations to join the cast in September.[6] In October 2019, Johnny Flynn, Ben Chaplin, Ken Stott and Monica Dolan joined the cast of the film.[7]

Principal photography began at Shackleford in Surrey in October 2019 – Norney Grange there being used to stand in as Pretty's house at Sutton Hoo – with location filming taking place in Suffolk near to the original discovery site.[8] The film's production team conducted research at the British Museum in its Sutton Hoo archive and gallery.[9] Underwater filming took place at Pinewood Studios.[10]

Release

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The film had a limited release on 15 January 2021. Netflix released the film for streaming on 29 January 2021.[11] The film was the third-most watched title in its debut weekend, then finished seventh each of the following two weekends.[12][13][14]

Reception

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Critical response

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Rotten Tomatoes reports that 88% of 153 critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 7.20/10. The site's critics consensus reads, "Featuring beautifully matched performances from Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan set against gorgeously filmed English countryside, The Dig yields period drama treasures."[15] According to Metacritic, which sampled 35 critics and calculated a weighted average score of 73 out of 100, the film received "generally favorable reviews".[16]

Kevin Maher of The Times gave the film five out of five stars and described it as a "serious, intellectually committed, and emotionally piercing cinema. Unmissable."[17] Katie Rife of The A.V. Club gave the film a B− and wrote, "for all the film's sweeping, romantic ideas, the actual experience of watching The Dig is a lot like sitting at a bus stop."[18]

Will Gompertz of BBC News awarded the film four out of five stars, writing that "it is a thoroughly enjoyable film made with subtlety and sensitivity: a real tonic for these bleak winter days and nights. It lacks the emotional and intellectual heft and bite to make it an unmissable, classic movie, but I would happily watch it again, and again."[19] In a more mixed review, Mark Kermode of The Guardian rated the film three out of five stars, writing that "it's a melancholy whimsy about common purpose, new friendship and the persistence of the past, bogged down occasionally by a somewhat superfluous romantic subplot but buoyed up by Mike Eley's lush cinematography".[20]

Accolades

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On 4 February 2021, the film was listed for nine BAFTAs, including Best Film, Outstanding British Film, Director, Leading Actor, Cinematography and Adapted Screenplay.[21] The nominations were announced on 9 March 2021.[21] At the awards ceremony on 10 and 11 April, the film did not win an award in any of the nominated categories.

Year Award Category Recipients Result Ref.
2021 British Academy Film Awards Outstanding British Film Simon Stone, Gabrielle Tana, Ellie Wood, Moira Buffini Nominated [22]
Best Adapted Screenplay Moira Buffini Nominated [22]
Best Production Design Maria Djurkovic and Tatiana MacDonald Nominated [22]
Best Costume Design Alice Babidge Nominated [22]
Best Makeup and Hair Jenny Shircore Nominated [22]
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards Best Actor Ralph Fiennes Nominated [23]
London Critics Circle Film Awards British/Irish Actress of the Year Carey Mulligan Nominated [24]
Casting Society of America, USA Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Studio or Independent Feature - Drama Lucy Bevan Nominated [25]

Historical accuracy

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Mark Bridge of The Times noted that archaeologists had taken issue with the film's portrayal of Peggy Piggott as inexperienced and only hired because her light weight would not disturb the delicate site.[26] By 1939, Piggott was an experienced archaeologist in her own right, and had studied archaeology at the University of Cambridge and University of London.[27] She is also presented as being married to an older, more experienced male archaeologist, whereas in reality Stuart Piggott was only two years her senior (27 and 29, respectively) and they had met while both students.[27]

The ages of other characters were also changed from their real counterparts. Charles Phillips, who was in his late 30s at the time of the dig, is played by Ken Stott, who was in his 60s. Landowner Edith Pretty, who was in her mid 50s, was initially intended to be portrayed by 53-year-old Nicole Kidman; the role was ultimately filled by Carey Mulligan, who was then in her mid 30s.[28]

Bridge also criticised the addition of the fictional Rory Lomax as a love interest for Piggott. The character of Lomax, Pretty's cousin, is depicted as the photographer.[26] Mercie Lack and Barbara Wagstaff (two teachers), and O. G. S. Crawford (the archaeological officer of the Ordnance Survey) separately took series of photographs.[27] The two women who extensively photographed the site were excluded from the book and film to create a romantic subplot.[26]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Stefan Gregory Scoring Simon Stone's Netflix Film 'The Dig'". Film Music Reporter. 21 December 2020. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  2. ^ "WAGES. (Hansard, 5 June 1939)". api.parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  3. ^ Armstrong, Neil (27 January 2021). "The buried ship found on an English estate". BBC. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  4. ^ Townsend, Emily (21 September 2018). "Nicole Kidman could star in new film about Sutton Hoo". East Anglian Daily Times. Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  5. ^ Galuppo, Mia (29 August 2019). "Carey Mulligan to Star in Netflix Drama 'The Dig' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  6. ^ Kit, Borys (5 September 2019). "Lily James to Join Carey Mulligan in Netflix Period Drama 'Dig' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  7. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (8 October 2019). "'The Dig': Johnny Flynn, Ben Chaplin, Ken Stott & Monica Dolan Join Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes & Lily James In Netflix Pic Now Underway In UK". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  8. ^ Daniels, Nia (26 July 2019). "The Dig to film in the UK". The Knowledge. Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  9. ^ Brunning, Sue (23 April 2021). "Excavating The Dig". Sloan Science & Film. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  10. ^ "The Dig". Pinewood Studios. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  11. ^ Times Staff (19 November 2020). "Yes, Virginia, there are movies this holiday season. Here's where to find them". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  12. ^ Brueggemann, Tom (1 February 2021). "Tenacious 'Tenet' Still Soaring on VOD Charts as 'News of the World' Stays Strong". IndieWire. Archived from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  13. ^ Brueggemann, Tom (8 February 2021). "'Malcolm & Marie' Soars at Netflix as 'Greenland' Continues to Score at a Premium VOD Price". IndieWire. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  14. ^ Brueggemann, Tom (15 February 2021). "'Croods 2′ and 'Wonder Woman 1984' Show VOD Rebound as 'Barb and Star' Makes Strong Debut". IndieWire. Archived from the original on 16 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  15. ^ "The Dig (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  16. ^ "The Dig Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  17. ^ Maher, Kevin (13 January 2021). "The Dig review — emotionally piercing and intoxicating drama about the pull of the past". The Times. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  18. ^ Rife, Katie (13 January 2021). "Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes delve for meaning in the sallow period drama The Dig". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  19. ^ "The Dig: Will Gompertz reviews film starring Carey Mulligan & Ralph Fiennes ★★★★☆". BBC News. 30 January 2021. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  20. ^ Kermode, Mark (31 January 2021). "The Dig review – a quiet meeting of minds at Sutton Hoo". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 16 February 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  21. ^ a b "Longlists, 2021 EE British Academy Film Awards". British Academy Film Awards. 4 February 2021. Archived from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  22. ^ a b c d e "2021 EE British Academy Film Awards: The Nominations". www.bafta.org. 9 March 2021. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  23. ^ Haring, Bruce (8 February 2021). "AARP The Magazine Sets Movies For Grownups Nominees, Adds TV Categories". Deadline. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  24. ^ Cline, Rich (12 January 2021). "Female filmmakers lead nominees for the Critics' Circle Film Awards". The Critics' Circle. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  25. ^ The Dig - IMDb, archived from the original on 14 June 2021, retrieved 20 February 2021
  26. ^ a b c Bridge, Mark (29 January 2021). "Netflix drama The Dig unfair on Sutton Hoo archaeologist Peggy Piggott". The Times. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  27. ^ a b c Sykes, Rebecca Wragg (29 January 2021). "How accurate is The Dig? What's true and false in Netflix's Sutton Hoo film". The Times. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  28. ^ Smith, Neil (29 January 2021). "Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan remake history in Netflix film The Dig". BBC News. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
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