In 1840’s England fossil hunter Mary Anning (Kate Winslet) spends her mornings combing the Jurassic Coast of Lyme Regis. Making ends meet by selling finds and trinkets to tourists whilst the scientific community overlook her because she is a woman. When Charlotte Murchison (Saoirse Ronan) comes to the coast for a period of convalescence she forges a friendship with Mary that will change both of their lives.

Ammonite is a film that is slow and engrossing. The script is sparse and there is a lot of information that is left unsaid and told through looks and actions. Winslet and Ronan are absolutely immense in their roles, able to convey emotion and story just with a look or an action. The films sets and locations help greatly with the immersion. Anning’s abode is a dilapidated workshop and storefront and shows the poverty she lived in whilst the homes around the town she visits are elaborate in their size and grounds. But the real star of the show is the coastline itself. Filmed on location in Lyme Regis the crashing waves and glorious coast line are imposing and give a great sense of place.

There has been some controversy about how close to reality the films plot adheres. Anning and Murchison were friends in real life and shared correspondence but there is no evidence for or against their relationship being more than friendship. In fact arguably the more egregious change to reality is the slight dumbing down of Murchison’s character from her real life counterpart. If historical accuracy is important to you then this could be an issue but ultimately this is not the story that writer/director Francis Lee wants to tell.

I found my time on the Dorset coast thoroughly worthwhile and fulfilling and spent some time after wondering what would have become of this version of these historical figures.