The Dig

I love stories like this—history, archaeology, and based on true events. I was all set to give it five stars, especially with Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan in the lead roles. But halfway through, the film just lost steam. It turned into a series of scenic shots of the English countryside with not much happening. It felt like it was reaching for a sense of poetry but never quite got there. (02/02/2021)

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. (07/02/2021)

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*+ (11/04/2021)

It's exactly because of films like this that I like to watch films so much. The content captivates, but it doesn't say much. The director is unknown, but he chose an interesting subject and got a great cast, so... What is it going to be? In the end it is such a beautiful story, in which there is digging literally and metaphorically, a story that entertains and tugs at the heartstrings, from which you learn something, and by the end credits you have seen something what you will be happy to see again. (30/01/2021)

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. (03/02/2021)