![]() While it certainly wasn’t quite Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Ammonite did have some real fire to it.Parents need to know that Ammonite is a sexually graphic period drama that celebrates the power of love between two women. In addition, I wish Lee had developed Murchison’s back story as he did with Anning so their emotional connection was more believable.īut even with these critiques, Ammonite certainly shined through with its portrayal of the nuances of a same-sex relationship. While the sound of waves crashing and fossils being scratched were certainly atmospheric, I wanted a more present musical score to underlie the passion of the two women. But as incredible as it was to watch, it can’t make up for other aspects of the movie that were missing. The climax of Ammonite is the film’s second sex scene, which is one of the most raw and intimate portrayals of lesbian sex I have ever seen. ![]() Even when Murchison first kisses Anning, it feels sudden their interaction lacks an unmistakable sense of longing and building chemistry. But with Anning and Murchison’s first few interactions in Ammonite, the spark is missing. The same is true in Portrait of a Lady on Fire. For example, when Therese and Carol first meet in Carol, there’s an instant curiosity and a bit of infatuation. But in my view, what makes those two films better than Ammonite is the early romantic and sexual tension between the two leads. And that’s to be expected with this genre, as it was in Carol and Portrait of a Lady on Fire. While the first 45 minutes was beautiful to watch, not much happens between the two female characters. Where the film lags is the pacing of its romantic storyline. From the steamy sex scenes that Winslet and Ronan choreographed themselves to the sensual glances they share in the second half of the film, they certainly deserve the high praise. And that buzz is absolutely well-deserved. Winslet won an Oscar in 2009 for The Reader and Ronan has been nominated for Best Actress three times in the last five years. The film has also accumulated Oscar buzz for both Winslet and Ronan. As Lee rightly questioned on Twitter, “After seeing queer history be routinely ‘straightened’ throughout culture, and given a historical figure where there is no evidence whatsoever of a heterosexual relationship, is it not permissible to view that person within another context?”Įven with this controversy and larger debates about whether straight actors should play LGBTQ roles, Ammonite’s world premiere garnered mostly positive reviews. However, I really respect writer and director Francis Lee for his queer reimagination. The film was initially met with criticism since there is no evidence that Anning and Murchison were romantically involved. Though Ammonite did not meet all of my expectations, it still deserves a place in the canon.Īmmonite is loosely based on the real lives of paleontologist Mary Anning (Kate Winslet) and Charlotte Murchison (Saoirse Ronan). ![]() The latest film in this seemingly niche yet well-respected genre is Ammonite, a 19 th century romantic drama starring Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan. In the last few years, there has been a rise in lesbian period dramas, such as Carol, The Favourite, and Portrait of a Lady on Fire. ![]()
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