With the longer hours in the day coming in, the weekend is the perfect time to settle down in front of the sofa and watch incredible dramas that might have initially passed us by.
Back in 2021, Netflix released The Dig, a 1930s-set period drama that focused on a real-life archaeological dig in Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, ahead of the start of World War II. The movie itself is based on the 2007 book of the same name by John Preston.
A simple synopsis for the movie reads: “An excavator and his team discover a wooden ship from the Dark Ages while digging up a burial ground on a woman’s estate.”
Ahead of its release, The Dig attracted controversy over the decision to cast Carey Mulligan as Edith Pretty. At the time of the film’s setting, Edith would have been in her 50s, whereas Carey was in her mid-30s. The character was originally supposed to be played by Nicole Kidman, but she pulled out due to a scheduling conflict, so some were dismayed that an actress of a similar age didn’t get the role.
“Gosh what a missed opportunity to cast an age-appropriate actor to play the 55-year-old Edith Pretty, instead of the lovely but definitely-in-her-early-30s Carey Mulligan,” one viewer tweeted.
There was another age-swapped character as well, with Charles Phillips being in his 30s at the time of the film’s setting, but his actor, Ken Stott, was in his 60s.
What did fans make of The Dig?
Aside from the issues over the age-swapping, fans really loved the period drama. One enthused: “Honestly, I landed on the film last night, browsing titles on Netflix, because of Lily James – having known nothing else about the film from before (I usually skip trailers these days), but that she was in the cast was a huge draw for me – and found immense pleasure in this gem of a film.
“From Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes to Ben Chaplin and Archie Barnes, the performances are all first-rate.”
A second penned: “So rare to watch a wonderfully gentle but poignant film. It tugs at the emotions as it tells a largely true. Some liberties are taken with the truth but largely accurate,” while a third mused: “An intriguing little piece of British history, The Dig tells a slow-burning story with understated and genuine drama throughout, turning what could have been a rather dry tale of archaeology into a genuinely gripping character drama.”
A fourth added: “There are so many really good things about this movie, such a great piece of storytelling. The cast is excellent and all put in great performances, especially Lily James and Ralph Fiennes.”
synThe film was also a critical success, receiving five BAFTA nominations, although it ultimately went home empty-handed. Writing for the BBC, Will Gompertz said: “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.”
Who stars in The Dig?
The Dig is led by several major British stars, including Carey Mulligan (The Great Gatsby), Ralph Fiennes (Harry Potter), Lily James (Pam & Tommy), Johnny Flynn (One Life) and Ben Chaplin (The Nevers).
© LARRY HORRICKS/NETFLIX © 2021ÂThe cast was completed by Ken Stott (The Missing), Archie Barnes (House of the Dragon), Monica Dolan (Appropriate Adult), Eamon Farren (The Witcher) and Danny Webb (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms).
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