Film Review: The Dig

Director: Simon Stone
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James
Running time: 112 minutes

To say I was excited about this release is an understatement. Based on the book by John Preston, it tells the story of the Anglo-Saxon ship uncovered in Suffolk – along with treasure, the likes of which has never been found in the UK since. However, the smaller narratives of each character soon overtake the story – meaning the themes of death, loss and illness are merged together delicately to create a slow-burn heartache of a film. 

First off, the cast is fantastic. Carey Mulligan plays a wonderfully restrained, broken and cautious Edith Pretty – the woman who first commissioned the dig on her land following her personal curiosity and love of archaeology. Ralph Fiennes is brilliant as the unassuming, stubborn and gruff excavator Basil Brown. Lily James joins as Peggy Piggott, wife of one of the archaeologists that later joins the dig. While Johnny Flynn is a warm and welcome addition to the excavation as Edith’s young cousin Rory Lomax – a budding photographer and soon-to-be RAF pilot. 

Through all of this the film also successfully manages to bring in an undercurrent of bigger themes. Class politics are played out constantly as Brown – who although paid just two pounds a week – starts the dig, and shows astounding knowledge and ability, is constantly marginalised by the British Museum. Sadly it has only been in recent years that his work and expertise finally received recognition. 

Likewise, feminism is nestled within the plot. Peggy is hired only because of her smaller size and lighter weight – she is not viewed as an intellectual by male peers. We watch as she becomes trapped by her disappointing, passionless new marriage. Mrs Pretty lives an isolated existence following the death of her husband, and her health problems which slowly take hold of her are put down to a mere nervous condition by the local doctor.

Of course, the impending threat of World War II is a constant, heavy weight on the film. We see everyone preparing for air raids, pilot training and statues piled high with sand bags. We as viewers know what horrors await Rory when he takes to the skies in battle. 

Director Simon Stone allows the audio from one scene to overlap another – showing how each story weaves around the excavation – every character considering their personal legacy, while trying to shape a future that is their own.  

However - the actual dig that The Dig is meant to be about? Well, we don’t see much of it. Any archaeology geek expecting to see more of the process and hear more about the history will be disappointed. However, the cinematography is gorgeous nonetheless – Suffolk has never looked more beautiful. 

In summary; I’m raving about The Dig knowing full well the slow, quiet pace of the film won’t appeal to everyone. But it is blissful, beautiful; a reminder of the wonderful things that can happen, even in a time of disaster and fear. 

Did you know? Director Simon Stone said of the shooting locations: “You go to Suffolk once and visit the estuary lands and you see such a unique landscape, like a world that you just don't recognise as quintessentially English, and so I thought to myself this is a real opportunity to show a side of England that you don't usually see.”

The Dig is available now on Netflix