The Dig (2021 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Dig |
|
|---|---|
Official release poster
|
|
| Directed by | Simon Stone |
| Produced by |
|
| Screenplay by | Moira Buffini |
| Starring |
|
| Music by | Stefan Gregory |
| Cinematography | Mike Eley |
| Editing by | Jon Harris |
| Studio |
|
| Distributed by | Netflix |
| Release date(s) | 14 January 2021 (New Zealand) 15 January 2021 (United States) 29 January 2021 (United Kingdom) |
| Running time | 112 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Dig is a 2021 British drama film. It was directed by Simon Stone. The movie is based on a 2007 book by John Preston. This book tells the story of real events from 1939. It's about an amazing discovery at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, England.
The film stars Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, and Lily James. It was first shown in some cinemas on January 14, 2021. Then, it became available to stream on Netflix on January 29, 2021. Many people liked the movie. It was even nominated for five British Academy Film Awards. This included a nomination for the best British film.
Contents
Uncovering the Story of The Dig Film
The Amazing Discovery at Sutton Hoo
The story begins in 1939. A woman named Edith Pretty owns a large estate in Suffolk. She hires a local archaeologist, Basil Brown. He is a self-taught expert. Edith wants him to explore some big mounds of earth on her land. These mounds are near Woodbridge.
Basil Brown used to work for the Ipswich Museum. Edith offers him the same pay he got there. But Basil says it's not enough. So, Edith increases his pay to £2 a week. This was a good amount of money back then. Basil agrees to start digging.
Basil's old bosses try to get him to work on a Roman villa instead. They think it's more important. But Basil believes the mounds at Sutton Hoo are special. He thinks they might be Anglo-Saxon, not Viking. He had to leave school when he was 12. Because of this, some people didn't take him seriously.
Digging Deeper: What They Found
Basil starts to dig into the most promising mound. He works with helpers from Edith's estate. One day, a trench collapses on him. Luckily, his team digs him out quickly. While working, Basil spends time with Edith and her young son, Robert. They all share an interest in archaeology and astronomy. Basil is a loyal husband and his wife supports his low-paying job. Meanwhile, Edith is not feeling well. Her doctor tells her to avoid stress.
Basil is amazed to find iron rivets. These are pieces of metal used to hold things together. They suggest he has found a ship. This means it could be the burial site of a very important person, maybe even a king!
News of the discovery spreads fast. A well-known archaeologist, James Reid Moir, tries to join the dig. But Edith says no. Instead, she hires her cousin, Rory Lomax, to help. Soon, Charles Phillips arrives from Cambridge. He is an archaeologist. He declares the site is very important for the country. The Office of Works orders him to take over the dig.
The Treasure and Its Future
As World War II gets closer, Phillips brings a big team. One team member is Peggy Piggott. She finds proof that the site is indeed Anglo-Saxon. Basil is told to just keep the site tidy. But Edith steps in and he goes back to digging.
Basil then finds a small gold coin called a Merovingian Tremissis. This proves the site is very old and important. Phillips wants to send all the amazing things found to the British Museum. But Edith is worried about bombing raids in London. She says the items belong to her.
An official investigation agrees that Edith owns the ship and its priceless treasure trove. But Edith is sad because her health is getting worse. Peggy, whose husband Stuart isn't paying much attention to her, starts a romance with Rory. But Rory soon has to join the Royal Air Force.
Edith decides to give the Sutton Hoo treasure to the British Museum. She asks that Basil Brown gets credit for his hard work. The movie ends with Basil and his team covering the ship with earth. This helps to keep it safe.
After the movie, text explains what happened next. Edith died in 1942. The treasure was hidden in the London Underground during the war. It was first shown nine years after Edith died. But Basil Brown was not mentioned at first. Much later, Basil finally got full credit for his amazing work. His name is now shown next to Edith's at the British Museum.
Meet the Cast: Who's in The Dig?
- Carey Mulligan plays Edith Pretty
- Ralph Fiennes plays Basil Brown
- Lily James plays Peggy Piggott
- Johnny Flynn plays Rory Lomax
- Ben Chaplin plays Stuart Piggott
- Ken Stott plays Charles Phillips
- Archie Barnes plays Robert Pretty
- Monica Dolan plays May Brown
- Eamon Farren plays John Brailsford
Making the Movie: Behind the Scenes
The idea for this film started in 2006. Producer Ellie Wood read the book The Dig before it was even published. She wanted to turn it into a movie.
In 2018, it was announced that Nicole Kidman and Ralph Fiennes might star. But by 2019, Nicole Kidman couldn't do it because of other work. Carey Mulligan took her place. The movie rights also moved from BBC Films to Netflix. Lily James joined the cast in September. In October 2019, Johnny Flynn, Ben Chaplin, Ken Stott, and Monica Dolan also joined.
Filming started in October 2019 in Surrey, England. A house there was used as Edith Pretty's home at Sutton Hoo. Some scenes were also filmed in Suffolk, near the real discovery site. The film crew did research at the British Museum. They looked at its Sutton Hoo archives and gallery. Underwater scenes were filmed at Pinewood Studios.
When Was The Dig Released?
The film was shown in a few cinemas on January 15, 2021. Then, Netflix released it for streaming on January 29, 2021. In its first weekend, the movie was the third most-watched title. It then stayed in the top ten for the next two weekends.
Fact vs. Fiction: What Was Changed for the Film?
Mark Bridge from The Times newspaper pointed out some differences. Archaeologists noted that the film showed Peggy Piggott as not very experienced. It also suggested she was hired because she was light. But in 1939, Peggy was already an experienced archaeologist. She had studied archaeology at the University of Cambridge and University of London.
The movie also shows Peggy married to an older, more experienced archaeologist. In real life, Stuart Piggott was only two years older than her. They had met when they were both students. Also, Charles Phillips was in his late 30s. But he is played by Ken Stott, who was in his 60s. Edith Pretty was in her mid-50s. But she is played by Carey Mulligan, who was in her mid-30s. (Originally, Nicole Kidman, who was 53, was planned to play Edith).
The character of Rory Lomax was also added for the movie. He is Edith's cousin and a love interest for Peggy. In real life, the site was photographed by Mercie Lack, Barbara Wagstaff, and O. G. S. Crawford. The two women who took many photos were not included in the book or film. This was done to create a romantic storyline.
See also
- The Lost King, a 2022 film about finding the remains of Richard III
