The Dig

The Dig is a beautiful, lyrically told film in which someone with determination makes the greatest archaeological discovery, someone unfulfilled finds the love of a lifetime, and someone extremely important to someone.... Set to piano music, feelings of anxiety from the onset of war and relaxed sunsets, and existential thoughts associated with art and its eternal nature. All of the actors are top-quality and the editing is atypical in places for effect. No one could say they didn’t like it, or vice versa. (02/12/2021)

An interesting film that I wouldn't recommend to hyperactive people, as the sluggish pace might make you go nuts. I was certainly far from bored, the film reminded me of the Detectorists, which had a similar vibe, even though it was about people that archaeologists would only look at with contempt. The film is based on true events and deals with the circumstances of an important archaeological find, but for me, it was mainly a film about people. And I liked it. 4*+ (04/11/2021)

Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes shine in this intimate drama about an archaeological find that rewrote English history. But The Dig is much more about the relationship between two characters who help each other fill the void in their lives, and the history that each of us is a part of, whether we want it or not. Simon Stone made an almost lyrical Terrence Malick-style drama that relies on atmosphere and a very slow pace rather than plot. It's all the more disappointing that in the second half he starts to dwell on the rather banal and pointless stories of the supporting characters. Still, this is a very good drama, which requires a bit of patience from the audience. (02/03/2021)

The first half is superb. There is no shortage of excitement in the gradual unveiling of the great find, the pre-war atmosphere is palpable and all it takes is a few shots of fortifying London and ominous plane flyovers. But with the arrival of Lily James, it slowly dilutes into a cheap melodrama with some philosophising about life and death, and all that is left for a worthwhile cinematic experience is the nice cinematography and the moving music. The director simply wanted to say a lot, even with a lot of insight, but he put too much on his shoulders and was unable to carry it in the second half. (02/07/2021)

A beautiful drama about a group of amateur and professional archaeologists digging burial mounds in Suffolk shortly before the beginning of WWII. A very attractive topic and I found it refreshing that the film focuses mostly on that motif, without getting into any big subplots (I was actually afraid that there would be some sort of romantic storyline). Basically, it’s a film about death, about what was, and about what remains after us with beautiful cinematography and a superb portrayal of the atmosphere of the impending war. (01/29/2021)