The Dig

So many people told me how good The Dig is so last night I settled down to watch it. Oh my word everyone was right, it is absolutely delightful, with some wonderful actors/actresses. 

Ralph Fiennes: Basil Brown

Carey Mulligan: Edith Pretty

Lily James: Peggy Piggott

Monica Dolan: May Brown

Ken Stott: Charles Phillips

I'm a little bit in love with Ralph Fiennes.  

I have seen Monica Dolan in many dramas, she is a great actress.

Carey Mulligan beautifully crafted the role of Edith.

The story is based on an amazing archaeological find. 

On the eve of World War II, a British widow Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan) hires self-taught archaeologist Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes) to dig up large burial mounds at her rural estate in Sutton Hoo because she had a “feeling” they would find something of note.

Working with a few assistants from the estate, Brown slowly excavates the more promising of the mounds which he thinks could be Anglo-Saxon rather than the most commonly held opinion of the Viking era. He uncovers iron rivets from a ship which could only make it the burial site of someone of tremendous importance such as a king. 

News of the discovery spreads and Cambridge archaeologist Charles Phillips arrives, declares the site to be of national importance and takes over the dig by order of the Office of Works. Brown is retained only to keep the site in order, but Edith intervenes and Basil resumes digging.

Phillips brings in a large team including Peggy Piggott who uncovers the first distinctively Anglo-Saxon artefact. He wants to send all the items to the British Museum but Edith, concerned about the possible war raids on London, asserts her rights, and an inquest confirms she is the owner of the ship and its priceless treasure. The items are kept safe in a London underground for the duration of the war.

Before her death Edith donated the treasure to the British Museum requesting that Brown be given recognition for his work. 

They were first exhibited nine years after Edith's death, with no mention of Brown. Only recently was he given full credit for his contribution and his name is now displayed permanently alongside Pretty's.  

I liked the way the film also dealt with the personal lives of the people involved in the dig, and the charming friendship Brown formed with Pretty's son Robert (beautifully acted by Archie Barnes), who was a keen amateur archaeologist.

Update

I felt fine after my covid vaccination until I went to bed. I had a headache and felt very hot, I didn't have a temperature but I was HOT, and I don't mean sexy hot!! it was uncomfortable hot, I didn't get much sleep. This morning I was tired and felt ill. I have spent the day on the sofa sleeping, drinking lots of water and tea and taking paracetamol. I'm pleased to say I am feeling much better now.

~ Be safe and well ~

Polly x