eriod dramas remain one of the most popular genres of films, and there have been plenty of spectacular ones over the years, including Ammonite, which was released in 2020.

The film, which was set during the 1840s, follows palaeontologist Mary Anning, who discovered several intact fossils of marine animals including the plesiosaur, and geologist Charlotte Murchison, exploring an unconfirmed romantic relationship between the two ladies.Kate Winslet in a still image from Ammonite

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The decision to depict a same-sex relationship between the two women, which had no historical basis, divided several, including Mary’s own family, with her descendants having differing views of how she was portrayed in the film.

Despite the controversy, the film mostly won over fans and critics, with the film earning several nominations, including at the BAFTAs, the GLAAD Media Awards, the London Film Critics’ Circle and the Satellite Awards. It did, however, manage to win three awards at the San Francisco International Film Festival and the Women Film Critics Circle Awards.

Ammonite has recently been available to stream on BBC iPlayer, but viewers who haven’t yet watched the film don’t have left to do. The movie will be leaving the platform by the end of the month, and at the time of writing, it only has 12 days left on the streamer.

What did fans make of Ammonite?

Viewers were left entranced with the romantic film, as one penned: “This is an understated love story. The performances of the four female leads are in the same vein. Subtly acted throughout; never overdone. A really beautiful movie.“

A second added: “Trying to describe the mesmerising performance of these two actors would ruin the enjoyment of the film,” while a third wrote: “Personally, for me it was never too slow, but I can understand that people might feel differently. You should prepare yourself for a slow-paced, two hour long dramatic period piece.”

Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan in a still image from Ammonite© Alamy Stock Photo
Fans were left mesmerised by Kate and Saoirse’s acting

A fourth commented: “Wow, what a life-changing film. Both main actresses achieve and convey so much through so little words. This film not only highlights their astounding acting abilities, but also the importance and weight of subtleties in body language, facial expression, etc.”

Addressing the backlash over the accuracy of the film’s story, Brian Tallerico wrote for Roger Ebert.com: “With Ammonite, [director] Francis Lee is reaching for something deeper than a biopic or history lesson. It is a story of connection, something we all seek, even after our lives seem to have made it impossible to find. Even people as removed from society as Anning can suddenly be thrust into life-changing relationships. We can all be changed forever by someone we meet like an unexpected fossil find, digging through the rocks on the shore to discover something you’ve never seen before.”

Who stars in Ammonite?

The film features several major Hollywood stars, with Kate Winslet (Finding Neverland) and Saoirse Ronan (Little Women) leading the cast as Mary Anning and Charlotte Murchison respectively.

Also featured in the cast were Fiona Shaw (Harry Potter), Gemma Jones (Gentleman Jack), James McArdle (Andor), Alec Secăreanu (God’s Own Country) and Claire Rushbrook (Whitechapel).